Had Longford faced Dublin in their home ground of Pearse Park, (currently out of action because the stand has been damaged by 'structural subsidence') then it's quite possible, and I don't want to overstate this, that they might have gotten within twenty points of them.
The commentary urging the removal of the Dubs from Croke Park will likely die down now, not least because the proponents have a pain in their face arguing the point at this stage.
But also because its clear that it hardly matters in Leinster. Dublin will win regardless.
The principle still stands though and former Dublin manager Paul 'Pillar' Caffrey used his Daily Mail column to join the hordes calling for the Dubs to descend on rural towns.
Last week, former Dublin footballer Coman Goggins defended the status quo in the Evening Herald, cackling at Offaly and Pat Flanagan's first round loss in the process, but Caffrey takes a wholly different view.
Nobody can reasonably argue that Dublin should continue to play their opening game at Croke Park after this.
It was a poor crowd considering it was a double header, but the game itself was an awful spectacle.
Taking the games outside Croke Park has nothing to do with balancing things out at this stage - Dublin would still beat Longford no matter where it’s played. But they won’t run up 4-25 at Pearse Park.
All things considered, yesterday could hardly have gone worse from the Leinster Council's vantage point.
A dead atmosphere, a poorish crowd for a double header, a hideously one-sided football match sure to crank up the calls for reform and a truckload of criticism over the decision to make the hurling match the curtain raiser to the football turkey shoot.
The only bright spot was the hurling went to a replay.
Read more: Ex-Dublin Footballer Slams Endless Debate On Dublin In Croke Park
Read more: After Dubs-Croker Debate - Another Leinster Injustice Arises
