While it looked a bit questionable for a while, Dublin would ultimately continue their long winning streak in Leinster with a victory over Kildare at the weekend.
Dessie Farrell's side were behind for the majority of the game, although they would win the game after finally pulling ahead in the final ten minutes or so. They will now face Louth in the final.
As for Kildare, they will no doubt feel like the game was an opportunity missed. They have rarely come so close to beating the Dubs in provincial competition over the last decade or so.
Speaking after the game, their manager Glenn Ryan felt that Dublin getting certain advantages due to the game being in Croke Park played a large part in deciding the result.
You can say it’s sour grapes but I know I'm reflecting the views of most teams around the country.
Everything is laid out up here from a familiarity perspective, from a games perspective and everything else seems to go their way as well...
There's sideline balls not given, a fella tripped up in front of the goals, wasn't given,
Sure we'll play anywhere, but you want to play anywhere when it's fair. And there wasn't anything glaring, nothing glaring.
There were calls went either way, but when you look at stuff that goes on on the sideline and the dressing-rooms and all that, you know, it's all wrapped up in it.
Those comments have been welcomed by some, although others felt they were misguided.
Paul Flynn questions Glenn Ryan's Dublin comments
Speaking on Second Captains, former Dublin star Paul Flynn said that he did not agree with the timing of Glenn Ryan's comments, especially after his team had lost a very winnable game.
His timing, in my opinion, was all wrong. Not after losing a game like that where they arguably should have won...
I got home and it was sent to me on WhatsApp and I thought 'is he kidding?'
You don't do that directly after a game I believe as a manager. I don't think it's a wise move.
There is no doubt in my mind that game was there to be won for Kildare. He needs to look at that why they didn't win it...
They could have closed that game out, Dublin were there for the taking. Dublin were poor...
There were so many positives for Kildare, things that we hadn't seen for the whole year. Then for their manager to come out and say those things, I'm not a fan of it personally.
The issue of Dublin playing so many games in Croke Park has been a topic of discussion for some time now. Many feel that it is unfair that they get to play both home and 'neutral' games at GAA headquarters, something that could rear its head once again this summer as the All-Ireland round robin comes into effect.
A conversation is certainly needed on that matter, something Paul Flynn agrees with to an extent. However, he is having none of Ryan's claims about other advantages Dublin get in the ground.
I have a view on what they should be doing across the board. They now know what the previous attendance was for these games in the last number of years and they have a number of stadiums that can be utilised for a game like this.
Why don't they review the data and pick a stadium that's going to be full? Do it on that basis rather than picking the stadium for the sake of it. That's what I think they do, or maybe for political reasons. I don't know why they do it.
I think the time has come for us to review where Dublin play certain games, absolutely.
But I do not agree, from a Kildare point of view, about all the stuff he said about the gum shield, come on. What is that all about?
All teams are called up in relation to gum shields. Most managers exit the technical area. He seemed to deal with that one okay anyway because he took things into his own hand and got rid of Darren Daly out of the box.
I think he's narky. I'm not with Glenn Ryan on this one.
It is unlikely we have heard the last of this conversation in 2023.
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