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Dubs aim to end Sam famine

Thursday, 08 May 2008

SUMMER is here at last and that can only mean one thing for GAA fans in the capital – regular trips up Jones’s Road to see their heroes battle it out for the Sam Maguire Cup.
Captains from the eight provincial finalists in last year’s Football Championship, including Dublin’s Alan Brogan, were in Croke Park last week for the official launch of this year’s All-Ireland Football Championship, and the question on everyone’s lips was: who’s going to win this year’s championship?
Recent Dublin displays in the National League won’t have instilled much confidence in Paul Caffrey’s men and the chances of finally reaching the Holy Grail would appear to be diminishing rather than increasing.
However, it’s a different year, a different competition and the most optimistic of Dublin supporters will be hoping that Caffrey and his charges get it right went it comes down to the nitty gritty of championship football.
Of course, the Dubs will be looking to win their fourth consecutive Leinster title first – no mean feat in itself - before they even think about aiming for the biggest prize, a prize they haven’t won since 1995 when they marginally defeated Tyrone.
And before that, well you have to go way back to 1983 when the ‘Dirty Dozen’ or ‘Twelve Apostles’, as they became affectionately known, saw off Galway in that never to be forgotten encounter.

The action gets underway on May 11, with the meeting of New York and Leitrim in the Connacht Championship and Longford and Westmeath, in the Leinster Football Championship.
Croke Park will host its first championship action of 2008 on May 18, with the Leinster Football Championship double-bill of Kildare v Wicklow and Meath v Carlow.
Reigning Sam Maguire Cup holders Kerry commence their campaign on June 8 when they welcome Waterford or Clare to Killarney.
Meanwhile, this will be the first championship under the new multi-sponsor model introduced by the GAA.
President of the GAA, Nickey Brennan, officially welcomed the new sponsors on board, as he looked forward to another competitive championship.
“We are delighted to have Toyota, Ulster Bank and Vodafone as our sponsors for the GAA Football Championship,” said Mr Brennan.
“They share our passion and commitment to the game, and we know our combined support for the championship will further enhance the profile of the game.
“We are delighted that sponsors of this stature are prepared to work with us in supporting our games.”
Mr Brennan said he was looking forward to a tremendous summer, culminating in the final of the All-Ireland Football Championship on September 21 at Croke Park.
“I am certain that we will have a particularly competitive series of games with a number of counties emerging to challenge Kerry as they bid for their third Sam Maguire Cup in a row,” he added.

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