Diary of a Dub True perfection has to be imperfect…. And from 8 there came 4. And for Dublin, from 4 will come 2, one by one. The journey continues as we witness the passing of time in its ever-slowing march to the promised land. Something is coming, of which now, we can begin to focus on, like the clearing at the end of a forest, the closer you get, clarity reaches upon your horizon.   The Super 8’s are once again no more, confined again to the rear view mirror. Like driving on an endless motorway, it’s become an endless blur of nothing. Nothing to see and nothing to learn, however, safe passage must be negotiated. Year 2 of an experiment by the GAA, the jury remains out on this. Marginally better this year, than last. Still offering up not one ounce of intensity that the semi-finals will bring, the championship is in dire need of something more extreme in design. Games that means nothing, more than half empty Croke park and a timing challenge, there is much for the GAA anoraks to overcome. We’ve one more year of this format and the imagination of the GAA public still remains to be captured. In its current format, it fuels more accusations at the big teams and Dublin in particular.   From a Dublin perspective, let’s reflect. What did we learn? What did we not know 4 weeks ago, that of which we now do? Honestly, very little. We’ve navigated our way through it again with maximum points. We’ve beaten Tyrone in Omagh again. Cork and Roscommon offered up little resistance to the Dublin Machine, and we now know Croke Park is a soulless place when only 30,000 show up. We’ve got more talent coming through who will feature in the next year or two. We’re still vulnerable at the back and I expect us to be targeted further, the addition of Rory O’Carroll is a welcome one but I’m not sure he’s at the level yet. This is our Achilles as we head into the semi-final and others will look to exploit, as we saw a second-string Tyrone team attempt to do today.   Dermo is back. The king is not dead and long live the king. This is to be welcomed. There has never been a more gifted footballer to play for Dublin. That heads-up footballing style, almost libero type role, he offers us something different, and at 32, he has the experience. We remember, it was his introduction in the 2017 final that saw the winning of the game. Single handedly beating 4 players to score a sublime point when Dublin most needed it. The winning of that Free-kick. Yes, that one. the GPS tracker thrown free kick that Deano knocked over. It was Dermo who was fouled and it was his cool head that made sure we didn’t take it quickly. The rest as they say is history, for without him, this train could have derailed at the 3 in a row stage. So he offers us something we may need in the next 2 games. Class, style, composure, distribution, strength, and a heads-up style of play. He’ll offer distraction and cover, because Mayo and more importantly, Lee Keegan, Colm Boyle and Paddy Durcan are going to have to factor him into their training plans this week. A Dermo coming off the bench after 55 minutes next Saturday will not be a welcome sight to those in the green and gold.  I for one, am glad to see the King return, long live the king. A small mention of the respect that exists in the GAA code. The most fitting image of the super 8’s that will live with me is the handshake between Jim Gavin and Mickey Harte at the end of today’s game. Genuine smiles, well wishes and good luck to one another as we head to the Semi-finals. 2 of the greatest inter-county managers to ever grace the game, achievers and believers. This is what it is all about, both managers knowing what they are heading into, but the ultimate of respect for one another. Not a click-baiter in sight.       And now it’s matter of days, the beauty of this crazy new GAA calendar is that we have a 6 day turnaround. No complaints. We knew this was coming and it was the same last year. No team has a preparation advantage. That said, in the days of old, we might have 2 or 3 weeks to wait for a semi-final, and given I’ve already covered how time works for a Dublin fan, we’re all happy to have a short week upon which to get the goosebumps out and the uncontainable excitement flowing. Deal with it how you may. Time is not anon to talk about Mayo, that will come in my next blog, nor it is time to even think about anything beyond Mayo. 16 years of not winning an All-Ireland will keep you grounded, focused on one game a time, one team at a time, one day at a time.   We don’t pander to, nor do we promote, the click-bait attitudes of many out there. Every week, sees a new accusation laid at our door, talk of population statistics, or of financial doping from those without a knowledge of our beloved game, from those who wish only to promote their own tripe or disrespect the thousands of volunteers in this great sport, up and down the country. For this, we have Radio Silence, and for proof, we have a Cork team who took a Dublin team apart yesterday in the under 20 final. Congratulations to that Cork team, deserving winners on the day and the better team by far. Financial doping is alive and well me hole.   Of this team, regardless of what we have seen thus far in 2019, the following are undisputable facts. Modern-day Dublin have six All-Ireland titles in eight years. They came in 2011, ’13, ’15, ’16, ’17 and ’18. In that time, they’ve won five League titles and compiled a record-breaking 36-game unbeaten run in competitive matches winning 44 All-Star awards in the process. When you factor in 2019, Dublin are now unbeaten in 34 Championship games, including the 2 drawn games with Mayo in 2015 and 2016. Dublin’s last defeat coming in the semi-final 2014 to Donegal. Without doubt, this is a special Dublin team, but on this road, 34 unbeaten championship or 36 unbeaten league games count for nothing unless you rewrite the record. Finish what you started. 2 more games that produce Dublin wins will see that be. 2 more giant leaps into the history books and perhaps, some recognition alas. We may not have seen the best of the Dubs this year, thus far, but saving it they are for the days to come. Dublin may only need to operate in their lower gears to navigate the rigours of a flawed championship, but flawed it is no more, this is the knock-out football coming our way, and the three teams that have tested us time and again since 2011. Old foes come to revisit us, and better stout than sharp sword I fear we will need. Courage and bravery, of all that this team has been built for, and its readiness been prepared in our winter of football. In Search of that which matters most, it is fair to say……. True perfection has to be imperfect….

COYBIB.