Dublin are through to yet another All-Ireland final, blitzing past Mayo in the second half as the drive for five-in-a-row is just 70 minutes away.
No one has proved a competitor to the Dubs in the last five seasons, many arguing that splitting the county into North and South would make the championship thousand times more competitive.
With this in mind, here’s how the sides would line out, should it come to fruition.
North Dublin
- Stephen Cluxton – Parnells
- Darren Daly – Fingal Ravens
- Johnny Cooper – Na Fianna
- Philly McMahon – Ballymun Kickhams
- Eric Lowndes – St Peregrines
- John Small – Ballymun Kickhams
- Jack McCaffery – Clontarf
- Brian Fenton – Raheny
- James McCarthy – Ballymun Kickhams
- Diarmuid Connolly – St Vincents
- Cormac Costello – Whitehall Colmcille
- Brian Howard – Raheny
- Ciaran Kilkenny – Castleknock
- Bernard Brogan – St. Oliver Plunkett’s or Ciarán Archer (St Maurs)
- Dean Rock – Ballymun Kickhams
This would be an incredible side, one good enough to match any in the country. All 15 have made regular appearances for the Dubs, and they’d have firepower from the bench too – with the likes of Paddy Andrews and Conor McHugh. A side littered in experience and ability, they would be far stronger than their Southern counterparts, and almost certain Sam Maguire contenders.
South Dublin
- Lorcan Molloy (St. Annes)
- David Byrne (Naomh Olaf)
- Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala)
- Cillian O’Shea (Kilmacud Crokes)
- Conor Mulally (Cuala)
- Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes)
- Nicky Devereaux (Ballinteer St. Johns)
- Mark Schutte (Cuala)
- Michael Darragh McAuley (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
- Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street)
- Kevin McManamon (St. Jude’s)
- Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
- Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes)
- Eoghan O’Gara (Templeogue Synge Street)
- Con O’Callaghan (Cuala)
A good side with a lethal forward-line, on their day South Dublin would be as good as anyone. Light on the goalkeeping front, the Southerners wouldn’t quite match their Northern counterparts, but would make a solid Super 8s campaign and a Leinster Championship run.
Were they to face one another, you’d fancy the Northerners to come out on top, but the Southerners would put up a decent fight.
It will be a controversial move should it come about, but if current proceedings are anything to go by, the emergence of the concept remains a likely prospect.
Dublin look incredibly likely to make it five in a row, with six and seven not beyond the realms of imagination.
