Diary of a Dub

Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.

Ring a Ring a Rosey, As the light declines
I'll remember Dublin City, In the rare ould Times.

And it’s there where we shall begin. Familiar words, of a place with a special place in our hearts. Yes, here we are again. On the cusp of another All Ireland final. On the cusp of greatness, the making of a kind of history we never thought we would ever see. Words must be chosen carefully.

This is always a special week. It doesn’t matter where you call home, or to which county you belong. An All-Ireland week is to us GAA Junkies, is the equivalent of Christmas to a young child. It doesn’t matter how many of them you have, each one in its own right is special. Unrivalled, it brings the opportunity to create new and everlasting experiences and memories, as well as an outburst of Goosebumps and giddiness.

So you’ve followed the customary advice and superstition. Radio silence maintained, and pre-match superstitious rituals complete. Jersey washed 37 times of course. Check. Ticket secured. Check. Well done if you’ve made it thus far with your liver and your nerves in-tact. Prepare now to embrace the madness from here on in though. These are the days of days and you’ve already been forgiven for what you are about to immerse yourself in. So bring out the best Father Jack in yourself and be Commitments style proud of it….Feck, Drink, Arse, Dubs!

I had this quote thrown at me a few times in the last 2 weeks ‘Sure, do you not get fed up of Dublin winning all the time’. Sweet mother of Jesus. If only they knew. 17 years of hurt will never be forgotten. From the extreme darkness and hurt, oh how a memory can be so short for some. Add to that, with history in the making, and a front seat to witness it, how you could you ever grow tired of seeing those you’ve invested the majority of your life into, being winners.

I remember walking out of Croke Park in 2006. It was a semi-final that Dublin had led by 7 points at one stage in the second half, but alas, we contrived to lose to Mayo and the wise words of Johnny Logan were a once again a playing….what’s another year? At that stage we were 11 years without an All-Ireland and it would be another 5 years before we would see a final, let alone a win. I remember the hurt. I will never forget it. That feeling of despair. How could we lose from being so far ahead? What do we have to do to make this pain disappear?  That was like being dumped on Love Island and watching the Mayo fans crack on. And then, August 16^th, 2008. Losing by 12 points to Tyrone, with compounded misery and sorrow walking down Jones road to hear of the passing of Ronnie Drew, darling Dub.  

You see, the dark days are never forgotten. The hurt can never be erased but it can be overcome by a healthy dose of joy. And it’s in our despair and in our joy, we learn a sense of appreciation to cherish what you have in the here and now, for you might never see it again. And as such, every Dublin final is an occasion to be experienced at its fullest.

I think, to the uninitiated, this comes not from malice, but simply due to the fact they don’t have a sense of what it means to me to be from Dublin, perhaps these people are from Kerry? Cute hoorism or genuine apathy, who knows? In my case, Dublin is easy to explain. It’s clear and simple. It is home. It is pride. It is belonging. It is mine. Add Dublin football. And it becomes something more. It is 40 years. It is ecstasy. It is agony. It is bonding. It is family. It is hurt, and in equal measure, it is hope. It is memories. It is experience. It is pride again and it is mine alas.

It doesn’t matter where you are from, be it Clontarf, Clondalkin, Coolock or Cabinteely. Dublin is more than a place. It is to you, what you want it to be. It’s a memory, a song, a love, and more. It triggers a response no matter where in this world you are. To me, it’s U2, the Dart, Gills pub, Hill 16, Vico road and Killiney Beach, The Igo Inn, Aslan, Dun Laoghaire on any day, The Dubliners, The Christmas day drinking sessions with the lads, its Hollywood nights, and the walk home. It’s Grand Central on all Ireland Sunday. It is many more but you get the jist. You only ever come from one place and that place is yours. And in a generation that moved out beyond the fair city, that feeling of being a Dub is accentuated. ‘Til my dying day, I will always be a proud Dub, of her place, a love for her I will always have.

And in this week, and to those who know me best, those who know how invested I am in this, in how much Joy it brings, the friends who aren't Dubs, for those well intended wishes of luck and success, it means much. If you can be from a county like Cork with its own proud tradition, and find it within yourself to wish us all the best, then it shows that friendship transcends county borders and colours. It's more about who you are to then where you are from.

And so onto this Sunday. One game from history. A record run that began on June 2^nd, 2015. 1,186 days unbeaten in championship football. Never done before by any Dublin team. No Dublin team has completed a 4 in a row and this record is in our sights. That great Kerry team of the ’70’s who came within one game, one kick of a ball from 5 in a row, is now in our sights. As pragmatic as we are, we’ve not talked about this, out of a fear of a jinx, afraid of the mockers. Not anymore, not this weekend. We are here on merit and we have not got here the easy way. No easy all-Irelands, 2 replays, games won by a point or the last kick of the ball. This team has beaten the best the country has had to offer in the last 4 years and found ways to get across the line.

One more time, we ask. One more time. We’re not done yet by any means.

 

One man. One name. Jim Gavin. My words won’t do him justice I fear. Everything we aspire to be. Humble and respectful. A leader. A Dub through and through. The modern day Heffo, only better. History maker. A man of his people. A visionary. A creator of excellence. Deservedly, and in time, he will be remembered as the greatest Dublin manager of all time, and I expect, in the same vein as Brian Cody and Mick O’Dwyer et al.

I find inspiration from achievers, from great leaders. And as an American football fan, there is only one name. Vince Lombardi. The greatest coach in NFL history who won three Championships in a row and 5 in total. So great, they named the Superbowl trophy after him. An achiever. A leader, a visionary. He said.

The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall. The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual. The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have. Winners never quit and quitters never win.

And then there is Joe Torre. One of the greatest Baseball greats. Led the Yankees to 4 world series. Hall of famer. Leader or men and achiever of great.

Competing at the highest level is not about winning. It's about preparation, courage, understanding and nurturing your people, and heart. Winning is the result

I can see Jim in Vince. I can see Jim in Joe. These are 2 of America’s greatest sporting achievers. Jim is in the same category. His greatness will be recognized in time, and that time is not now. Time to keep on achieving, in raising the bar. In Jim we trust.

And to my band of brothers, living our best Dublin lives. We have walked these roads together. Every twist and every turn. Mines been the honour and the pleasure. Without you this journey wouldn’t be the same and I’m damn glad to have you on this road with me.

Once more into the breach dear friends. I will see you all for a pint and some Champagne Supernova on Sunday.

As is customary on All Ireland final eve, a cupla focal are required. Something to take with us into the breach.

d'fhéadfadh an bóthar ardú chun freastal ort

And there it is. Greatness laid out in front of this team. In them, we place all of our hopes and our dreams. In them, we believe. In them we know this is how they think……

And as Vince once said, Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing. COYBIB.