While Dublin have been gaining praise from all angles in the last couple of years, it means that the spotlight has somewhat been taken away from the other Leinster championship teams. Which might not be the worst thing when you look at the record of the chasing pack in the last seven years.
No losing Leinster finalist has made it past Round 4 of the qualifiers since 2009. It's a shocking stat, but the dreaded six-day turnaround has knocked Meath three times, Wexford, Kildare, Louth and Westmeath in the past. While Kildare will have a bit more time to recover, it's still an alarming statistic.
Billy Joe Padden was a guest on Newstalk's' GAA show tonight and he discussed why he thinks that was the case.
Teams maybe though, they had an oppurtunity. And then they're just demoralised by the power of Dublin. I think now they might even be thinking that before the Championship starts.
It's disheartening really when you consider the population in Leinster and the good club football teams.
As to what sides should do to try and break the routine?
Put Dublin to one side and say, we can't beat them. Let's go and try and achieve something else in the Championship. Let's see if we can wind ourselves back and into an All-Ireland semi final at som estage. No team has been able to deal with that, that's the impact that Dublin have had.
Kildare have the chance to end the drought for losing Leinster finalists when they take on Armagh. Kieran McGeeney will get a crack at the Lilywhites as part of a double header in Croke Park. In the other qualifier, Down and Monaghan meet in a repeat of the Ulster semi final.Both ties take place on the 29th of July at Headquarters.
Both ties take place on the 29th of July at Headquarters.
