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Former Dublin coach Paul ‘Pillar’ Caffrey has praised the “astonishing” streak of successes the Sky Blues have enjoyed since 2011, but expects May to ask questions no one else has so far when they meet in the SFC All- Ireland on Saturday night.
Caffrey was in command when the Dubs were defeated by Mayo in a brilliant semi-final in 2006. At the time, Dublin struggled hard to deliver when summer reached boiling point, but since 2011, when Pat Gilroy led them to a first Sam Maguire since 1995, the floodgates have been opened.
They have completely dominated the landscape, with a sixth consecutive Irish title within their grasp this weekend.
“It’s pretty amazing because with all the conversation that’s been going on – and I think a lot of it has been very unfair on this current crop of players – if we hadn’t stepped out of line under Pat Gilroy in 2011, none if this I would, “Caffrey told RTÉ’s Game On.
“I think that gave a crop of players a little boost in realizing that, ‘hey, ’95 now is dead and buried, we can start looking forward.’ Players certainly grew in a different direction since 2011 in ahead.
“It’s an unreal crop of players who have emerged, but to do what they have done and create history as they have, Dessie [Farrell] This year has come and he has kept his foot on the helm … what we are seeing is remarkable.
“Even for us Dubs, we’re pleasantly surprised that ‘yeah, look, they got another one.’
Farrell believes this team has freed itself by completing the five in a row, with Farrell further refreshing his panel by bringing in players like Robbie McDaid, who is impressed through the winter.
“Last year I think there was a lot of pressure in camp,” Caffrey added.
“They said it wasn’t talked about, but it had to be in the background of every moment of their waking, could they create history? When they did, it must have been a huge relief.
“I remember being there that day and seeing Jim walk the court and get the applause. I’ve never seen him in that spotlight before. Stephen Cluxton did something similar.
“I thought, ‘that’s weird now, they’ve created something special and they realize themselves, this is the end of the journey.’
“When Jim went, I thought five or six of them might say, ‘You know what? I’ve already given him enough.’ But it launched again this year.”
Caffrey hopes, and hopes, a good battle at Croke Park in this year’s decider, stating: “This [Dublin] the journey will end. I hope it doesn’t end on Saturday, but May is not without hope. I would not say that this is a foregone conclusion.
“Looking inward, you hope this is a real competition because we could use a good football game to end the season. That will mean that Mayo shows up and plays his game A, and stays in this game well past 50 minutes. “.
The Mill at Hill & Ciaran McDonald’s Masterclass – Pillar Caffrey shared her memories of the famous SFC Dublin v May All-Ireland 2006 semi-final on @ GameOn2FM tonight #RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/8DPzumfZE2
– RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) December 16, 2020
Watch the all-Ireland senior soccer final between Dublin and May live on RTÉ2 starting at 3:40 PM on Saturday, listen to the commentary live on RTÉ Radio 1 or follow our live blog on RTÉ Sport Online and the RTÉ app News. The highlights of Saturday’s game (9:55 p.m. RTÉ2).
Follow the all-Ireland senior soccer final between Dublin and Cork with our live blog on RTÉ Sport Online and the RTÉ News app (starting at 3pm Sunday) or listen to the commentary live on RTÉ Radio 1. The most highlights of Sunday’s game (9:30 pm RTÉ2).
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