Ireland failed to retain the Cormac McAnallen Cup last Saturday as Australia secured the International Rules series 116-103.
As a whole, the series delivered this time round. The games were competitive, as a spectacle it was entertaining and the novel rules could inspire some inspiration for rule changes within the Gaelic football, like a limit on the amount of consecutive hand-passes permitted.
From a GAA perspective, it was a delight to witness the performances of the likes of Shane Walsh and Conor McManus, aided by the presence of Ireland's other top players around them to fully flourish.
Unfortunately, those players weren't aided by any of Dublin's three-in-row team though, with all selected Dublin players unavailable to make the trip Down Under for a number of reasons.
The absence of Dubin players in the series was a something that former Monaghan footballer Dick Clerkin took considerable issue with:
Will be giving my assessment of this years International rules in Monday’s @IndoSport ....I’ll also be calling out the Dubs on their snub of the series.... let’s call it for what it is!!
— D Clerkin (@clerkin_d) November 18, 2017
Clerkin elaborated on his thoughts in his Independent column today, arguing Dublin's absence damaged the brand of the series:
Is it really credible to suggest that not one of Dublin's exalted panel of players could have made the trip to Australia? Not one? I struggle to believe that Joe Kernan and his management team didn't make every effort to avoid a potential Dublin no-show.
He also referenced a twitter exchange he partook in with Dublin footballer Jack McCaffrey:
Amidst all the social media crossfire, I simply asked Jack McCaffrey was he ok with Dublin not being represented in Australia . 'Perfectly Ok' was his reply. A disappointing if unsurprising response.
That was not his response. It was a carefully selected segment of his response designed to represent Clerkin's bias rather than reality. In actuality McCaffrey explained the select few players invited were unable to commit:
Members of the Dublin squad have been adamant on this. Brian Fenton recently spoke with the Irish News and explained he was unable to commit due to just taking a new job. For him, a three week break from that was unattainable.
McCaffrey also amplified the point, clarifying the select few players invited, due to club or work commitments, could not attend.
The idea that an open invitation should be extended to the entire All-Ireland winning panel is absurd. After their All-Ireland success in 2014, only one member of the Kerry panel could commit for the last tour to Australia, David Moran.
Was that tour’s marketability diluted due to the lack of further representation from the proud and illustrious footballing county of Kerry?
Jack McCaffrey was injured. John Small, James McCarthy and Philly McMahon had club commitments.
The series has never been dominated by an individual county and with good reason. As much as it is about exhibiting the game, there is also a critical opportunity afforded to players to represent their country.
Clerkin argued the series ability to strive in a "ruthlessly competitive sports media market" was damaged by the 'snub.'
As a commercial venture, for it to even be suggested that the All-Ireland champions didn't feel it worth their time and commitment, would be a damning indictment of the series. Any one of Dublin's first 30 players would have been good enough to get a place on that Ireland panel.
That Jack McCaffrey should be concerned with the commercial effect his counties nonattendance would have is also nonsensical.
Sport is not about profitability. It is not players' priority to generate financial benefits for the GAA. That responsibility lies with the organisation itself. Ultimately, to criticise players who've committed to a prolonged season in order to secure an All-Ireland title, and then committed to their various clubs or new jobs fails to recognise players don't just exist to play sport, they are actually humans with other reasonable responsibilities.
It was not Australia's professional players' lack of commitment that damaged the brand in years previous, it was the AFL's commitment - the organisation itself.
Dublin's footballers have been involved before and will be again. There is no wider trend here, no over-arching belief they were better than this. No real issue.
You shouldn't be disappointed in Dublin players because of their inability to commit, you should be disappointed that footballers are being attacked for not shouldering the burden of attracting further revenue for the GAA coffers.
Dick Clerkin's column in full can be found here.
