Leinster GAA Final 2013, Dublin GAA, Meath GAA, Croke Park, Accommodation near Croke Park
Leinster Final 2013
GAA Supporters attending Sunday’s Leinster Senior Football final 2013 meeting of Dublin and Meath are reminded that the senior game has a 2.00pm throw-in, arrive early, park safely, enjoy the game.
Recommended Accommodation Near Croke Park:
Meath GAA
Jim Gavin is tangled up in Meath GAA and this has not happened so much since 1995. The difference now is the Dublin GAA Manager is trying to sell the old rivalry ahead of Sunday’s Leinster football final 2013, unlike the final Gavin played in eighteen years ago, when all that kind of talk took care of itself.
Dublin GAA come to Croke Park having won three of their last four championship meetings with the Royals, including last year’s provincial final, and the bookmakers agree they only have to show up to claim their eighth title in nine seasons.
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Gavin said, “Well I still think that tradition is there,” “Yes, it might have been stronger in the 1990s, but anytime we have come across Meath in recent times there has been a cut to the game”.
Form: “Both teams have good form, league and championship, both of us have got big scores in their opening games, and similar enough styles of play, physical defences and competitive midfield and very good forwards – so both sides will feel they have a chance to win.
Gavin goes on to say, “With the whole social demographic situation as well, there is a big Dublin community that has moved across the border into Meath, so I think there is still that sense of a local derby between Meath and Dublin.”
It is only three years since Meath GAA stunned Dublin GAA in the Leinster semi-final, winning 5-9 to Dublin’s 0-13 – and Gavin was also at the receiving end of a Meath defeat when in charge of the Dublin under-21s, in 2011. Sunday marks their 60th championship meeting; Dublin winning 32 to Meath’s 19, with eight draws.
Dublin v Meath GAA Leinster Final 2013
“To me, the Dublin-Meath games have always been competitive in the championship, and 2010 is an example of that. Games are still very unpredictable. But as a manager, and, as players, we’re not looking back at what happened in the past. That is completely outside of our control. All we’ve been doing is preparing for this Meath team.”
Gavin, however, can’t completely avoid the past: Dublin fairly destroyed Meath in the 1995 final, 1-18 to 1-8, Gavin playing at left-half forward, Paul Clarke providing the goal, and a 19-year-old named Jason Sherlock a new hero for Hill 16, and maintained that momentum to win the All-Ireland. It still ranks as one of Dublin’s best Leinster final performances against their old rivals.
“It was a good performance,” Gavin conceded, “but then the next year they beat us, and went on to win the All-Ireland final.”
Meath actually have the edge in recent Leinster finals, winning three (2001, 1999, and 1996) of the last five, Dublin’s win over Meath last year their first final win since 1995.
That 2012 final was a lot closer than expected, too, as Meath closed it to down to a goal, after outscoring Dublin 1-6 to 0-2 in the final quarter.
Dublin GAA Strong
Still all current form points strongly towards Dublin, even if their 16-point wins over both Westmeath and then Kildare suggest they haven’t yet been properly tested.
“Well, I think if you asked any of the Dublin players at half-time against Kildare they would have said they were (tested). I think it was a big test. And if you were in both dressing-rooms afterwards, both sets of players were fatigued from a big game given from both sides.
“I think if you let either of those teams play football, and they had shown potential what they could do, both Westmeath and Kildare, they could have got a run at us, and it would have been a completely different score at the end of the game. The players had a job to do and they did it well so we move on to the next game.
“I think the players showed good application in both games but there still is room for improvement, and that’s not to be glib about it. It’s just a fact from the players’ perspective. We still haven’t been consistent for the full 70 minutes. And this team haven’t won anything yet.”
Meath GAA Supporters
Meath supporters attending Sunday’s eagerly-awaited Leinster Senior Football final against
Dublin are advised to arrive early as the senior game has a 2.00pm throw-in and watch out for the Tayto Park bus for your free snack.
Those attending are advised to purchase tickets before arriving at the stadium to avoid queues on the day of the match.
Tickets can be purchased at a variety of outlets
1. online at gaa.ie
2. Leinster Council’s offices in Portlaoise.
3. The GAA Ticket Office in Dorset St.
4. Centra and SuperValu stores.
Patrons are also urged to arrive in time with the largest attendance of the championship season to date anticipated.
For the first time this year Croke Park’s Family Fun Zone will be open from 11.0 until 1.30 on Sunday.
This facility is free and offers interactive activities for children, pre-match analysis with former players, music, face painting, food outlets and other family fun.
