In his 2019 report, Dublin GAA’s juvenile secretary Damien Murphy delivered an analysis of a decade of growth for the ‘Go Games’ (ages 8-12) in the capital.
In the 13-16 grade there was also a spike across the same period, with football teams up from 225 to 297 (32 per cent) and hurling enjoying an even greater increase, 138 to 214 (55 per cent).
It was justification for the equality that Dublin GAA at juvenile level gives to both codes but also validation for the coaching and games structures that have been in place to build those foundations, supplemented by the GAA and State’s significant financial investment around 2004 that has become quite a source of debate, now that Dublin’s senior footballers have become so dominant on a national scale.
Murphy’s figures do not cover the previous decade, during which the scheme to help grow participation in Dublin began, but it’s a fair assumption to make that in those first six years, similar advances were made.
Yet despite the huge leap in numbers of teams and players experienced by Dublin clubs between the ages of eight and 16, it hasn’t, so far, translated into increased teams at adult football level in Dublin.
The opposite, in fact, has happened in the same timeframe that the scheme has been operational. In the 2004 Dublin football championships, the same year that the coaching initiative was cemented, there were 208 adult teams put out by some 85 clubs.
Fast forward 16 years, the number of clubs contributing teams to the 2020 adult football championships had dropped by 10 to 75 but much more significant is the number of teams competing – 183, a decrease of 12 per cent when the expectation, based on growth at underage level in that time, was that it should be on the rise at much the same rate in the other direction.
The reasons aren’t clear and are, most likely, a combination of things. Hurling has grown at a faster pace and has taken some players away for sure, while infrastructure leaves some clubs and even teams in some of the more established clubs out on a limb. With no fixed training abode, interest can become more difficult to sustain, the lower down the food chain they go.
For some, the switch to a round robin format that arguably commands more commitment may also be attributable to an element of decline in numbers, while the improvement in the road network around the country makes a weekend trip to a home club more accessible and consequently imports to clubs may not be as plentiful.
The pandemic which has gripped the world over the last 12 months has seen big numbers relocate home from the city for work purposes, with a re-commitment to their home club increasing the number of teams being fielded in places like Kerry, Clare and Mayo over the last 12 months.
This year alone, the numbers transferring out of Dublin clubs, but remaining in the country, is over 40 to date. In 2019, however, there were only three more adult teams playing championship football in Dublin, hardly a sharp decline.
It still remains an anomaly that, at a time when their flagship team has become the most dominant in the history of the inter-county game and numbers continue to swell at underage level, Dublin don’t appear to be sustaining that growth in football at adult level, if the number of teams is an accurate gauge.
The numbers aren’t sticking like they should beyond a certain age.
At the top end, the strength of Dublin clubs has been consolidated with the county’s champions winning two-thirds of the provincial senior titles up for grabs from 2005 to 2019. But as the grades drop, teams are disappearing.
The number of ‘new’ clubs is decidedly small over the last 16 years. Good Counsel and Liffey Gaels joined forces, St James Gaels/An Caisleán is an amalgamation while Shankhill and Na Gaeil Óga fielded teams in 2020.
Of the 14 clubs that didn’t field adult teams in Dublin championships in 2020 but had done so in 2004, three are college-based - DIT, UCD and Erin’s Hope - while Good Counsel and Liffey Gaels have merged. AIB, Donnybrook, Na Dubhghall, Northside Gaels, Park Rangers, Robert Emmets, St Martin’s and Wild Geese make up the balance, with Wild Geese now focusing on hurling in the north of the county.
Some clubs are outputting more teams than they were in 2004. Castleknock were only in their infancy then but have since doubled from two to four, Whitehall Colmcille have also doubled from two to four while Cuala have jumped from three to five adult football teams in 2020.
Clontarf, Na Fianna, Round Towers Lusk and Scoil Uí Chonail have also added teams, while Kilmacud Crokes have gone from five to six, giving them the most in the county.
But more have gone in the other direction. O’Dwyer’s, based in Balbriggan, had three teams in 2004, Intermediate, Junior B and Junior C, but fielded just a Junior 1 team in 2020.
In 2004, eight clubs fielded five teams. Crokes have since moved to six, Ballyboden St Enda’s remain on five and are joined by Na Fianna and Cuala but St Brigid’s, Ballinteer St Johns, St Vincent’s, St Jude’s, Lucan Sarsfields and Thomas Davis have all dropped to four. Some 26 clubs now have just one team by comparison to 21 in 2004.
Thomas Davis, St Mark’s, St Kevin’s Killian’s and St Anne’s, who all largely draw from the Tallaght area, have seen decreases in the number of teams they support at adult football level. Croí Ró Naofa, from the same area, retain one team, just as they did in 2004.
The Dublin championships have been reformed so that there are now a maximum of 16 teams in each grade. Senior is divided into senior 1 and 2, whereas in 2004, there were 35 senior teams.
Intermediate has been divided into Intermediate and Intermediate ‘all county’, which incorporates second teams, while Junior 1 and 2 facilitates first teams with Junior ‘all county’ 1-6 for remaining teams.
2004 to 2020 – How Dublin compare for adult teams
2020
Senior 1 (16)
■ Ballinteer St John’s
■ Ballyboden St Enda’s
■ Ballymuns Kickhams
■ Castleknock
■ Clontarf
■ Kilmacud Crokes
■ Lucan Sarsfields
■ Na Fianna
■ Raheny
■ Round Towers Lusk
■ St Jude’s
■ St Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruadh
■ St Vincent’s
■ Skerries Harps
■ Thomas Davis
■ Whitehall Colmcilles
Senior 2 (16)
■ Ballyboughal
■ Cuala
■ Erin’s Isle
■ Fingallians
■ Fingal Ravens
■ Naomh Mearnog
■ Naomh Olaf
■ Parnells
■ St Anne’s
■ St Brigid’s
■ St Mary’s Saggart
■ St Maur’s
■ St Peregrines
■ St Sylvesters
■ Templeogue Synge St
■ Trinity Gaels
IFC (16)
■ Clanna Gael Fontenoy
■ Clann Mhuire
■ Craobh Chiarain
■ Garda
■ Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels
■ Naomh Barrog
■ Naomh Fionnbarra
■ O’Tooles
■ Round Towers Clondalkin
■ St Brendan’s
■ St Finian’s Newcastle
■ St Finian’s Swords
■ St Margarets
■ St Patrick’s Donabate
■ St Patrick’s Palmerstown
■ Scoil Ui Chonaill
IFC all county (13)
■ Ballyboden St Enda’s
■ Ballymun Kickhams
■ Cuala
■ Kilmacud Crokes
■ Lucan Sarsfields
■ Na Fianna
■ St Brigid’s
■ St Jude’s
■ St Oliver Plunketts
■ St Sylvesters
■ St Vincent’s
■ Skerries Harps
■ Thomas Davis
■
Junior 1 (15)
■ Bank of Ireland
■ Beann Eadair
■ Civil Service
■ Crumlin
■ Geraldine P Morans
■ Garristown
■ Innisfails
■ Man O War
■ Na Gaeil Oga
■ O’Dwyers
■ Ranelagh Gaels
■ St James/An Caislean
■ St Mark’s
■ St Monica’s
■ Stars of Erin
Junior 2 (12)
■ Ballyfermot De la Salle
■ Cabinteely
■ Croi Ro Naofa
■ Erin Go Bragh
■ Portobello
■ Rosmini Gaels
■ St Colmcille’s
■ St Joseph’s/O’Connells Boys
■ St Kevin’s Killian’s
■ Starlights
■ Shankill
■ Wanderers
Junior AC 1 (16)
■ Ballinteer St John’s
■ Ballyboden St Enda’s
■ Castleknock
■ Clontarf
■ Erins’ Isle
■ Fingallians
■ Kilmacud Crokes
■ Lucan Sarsfields
■ Na Fianna
■ Naomh Mearnog
■ Raheny
■ St Brigid’s
■ St Peregrine’s
■ Templeogue Synge St
■ Thomas Davis
■ Whitehall Colmcilles
Junior AC 2 (16)
■ Ballinteer St John’s
■ Ballymun Kickhams
■ Cuala
■ Fingal Ravens
■ Na Fianna
■ Naomh Olaf
■ O’Toole’s
■ Round Towers, Clondalkin
■ Round Towers Lusk
■ St Anne’s
■ St Jude’s
■ St Margarets
■ St Mary’s Saggart
■ St Maur’s
■ St Oliver Plunketts
■ St Vincent’s
Junior AC3 (15)
■ Ballyboden St Enda’s
■ Ballyboughal
■ Castleknock
■ Clontarf
■ Garda
■ Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels
■ Kilmacud Crokes
■ Naomh Barrog
■ Naomh Fhionnbarra
■ Raheny
■ St Patrick’s Donabate
■ St Peregrine’s
■ St Sylvester’s
■ Scoil Ui Chonaill
■ Whitehall Colmcilles
Junior AC 4 (16)
■ Ballyboden St Enda’s
■ Cuala
■ Erin’s Isle
■ Kilmacud Crokes
■ Na Fianna
■ Naomh Olaf
■ Parnells
■ Round Towers Clondalkin
■ St Finian’s Swords
■ St Jude’s
■ St Oliver Plunketts
■ St Patrick’s Palmerstown
■ St Vincent’s
■ Skerries Harps
■ Templeogue Synge St
■ Thomas Davis
■
Junior AC5 (16)
■ Ballinteer St Johns
■ Ballymun Kickhams
■ Castleknock
■ Clanna Gael Fontenoy
■ Clann Mhuire
■ Geraldine P Morans
■ Kilmacud Crokes
■ Lucan Sarsfields
■ Man O War
■ Naomh Barrog
■ Naomh Mearnog
■ St Brendan’s
■ St Brigid’s
■ St Patrick’s Donabate
■ St Sylvester’s
■ Wanderers
Junior AC6 (16)
■ St Anne’s
■ Round Towers Clondalkin
■ St Maur’s
■ Crumlin
■ Cuala
■ Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels
■ Whitehall Colmcilles
■ Fingallians
■ Clontarf
■ Round Towers Lusk
■ St Finian’s Newcastle
■ St Mark’s
■ Trinity Gaels
■ Na Gaeil Oga
■ St James Gaels/An Caislean
■ Scoil Ui Chonaill
2004
SFC (35)
■ Erin’s Hope
■ UCD
■ Ballymun Kickhams
■ St Vincent’s
■ Garda
■ Craobh Chiarain
■ Trinity Gaels
■ O’Tooles
■ Naomh Fionnbarra
■ Naomh Olaf
■ St Jude’s
■ Round Towers Clondalkin
■ Ballyboden St Enda’s
■ Naomh Barrog
■ St Anne’s
■ Thomas Davis
■ Raheny
■ St Mark’s
■ Kilmacud Crokes
■ St Finnian’s Swords
■ Na Fianna
■ Erin’s Isle
■ Lucan Sarsfields
■ St Brigid’s
■ Ballinteer St John’s
■ St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh
■ Fingallians
■ St Mary’s Saggart
■ Clontarf
■ St Maur’s
■ St Margaret’s
■ Whitehall Colmcilles
■ Naomh Mearnog
■ St Sylvester’s.
IFC (30)
■ St Patrick’s Palmerstown
■ Erin’s Isle,
■ Clann Mhuire
■ St Sylvester’s
■ St Mary’s Saggart
■ St Brigid’s
■ Round Towers Lusk
■ Clanna Gael Fontenoy
■ Garristown
■ Innisfails
■ St Jude’s
■ Ballyboden St Enda’s
■ Scoil Ui Chonaill
■ Fingal Ravens
■ Lucan Sarsfields
■ Parnells
■ Naomh Olaf
■ St James Gaels
■ Kilmacud Crokes
■ Fingallians
■ Thomas Davis
■ Good Counsel
■ Robert Emmetts
■ Skerries Harps
■ Cuala
■ St Peregrines
■ St Vincent’s
■ Ballymun Kickhams
■ O’Dwyers
■ Templeogue Synge Street
JFC (33)
■ Thomas Davis
■ Lucan Sarsfields
■ Bank of Ireland
■ Ballyboughal
■ St Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruadh
■ Na Fianna
■ Kilmacud Crokes
■ Civil Service
■ Wanderers
■ Raheny
■ Starlights
■ St Margarets
■ Round Towers Clondalkin
■ Parnells
■ Clontarf
■ Ballinteer St John’s
■ Naomh Barrog
■ St Monica’s
■ St Finnian’s Newcastle
■ Naomh Olaf
■ Ballymun Kickhams
■ St Anne’s
■ Erin’s Isle
■ Whitehall Colmcilles
■ Skerries Harps
■ Crumlin
■ Donnybrook
■ St Brigid’s
■ St Jude’s
■ Naomh Mearnog
■ O’Toole’s
■ St Patrick’s Donabate
■ Garda
Junior B (32)
■ Naomh Mearnog
■ St Joseph’s O’Connell Boys
■ Na Fianna
■ St Colmcille’s
■ Templeogue Synge Street
■ Castleknock
■ Kilmacud Crokes
■ St Sylvesters
■ O’Dwyer’s
■ Fingallians
■ Ballinteer St John’s
■ Good Counsel
■ Trinity Gaels
■ Ballyfermot De La Salle
■ St Kevin’s Kilian’s
■ Man O War
■ Cuala
■ St Finnian’s Swords
■ Naomh Fionnbarra
■ St Maur’s
■ Craobh Chiarain
■ Beann Eadair
■ St Vincent’s
■ Erin Go Breagh
■ St Peregrine’s
■ Stars of Erin
■ Portobello
■ St Anne’s
■ St Mark’s
■ Ballyboden St Enda’s
■ St Brigid’s
■ Fingal Ravens
Junior C (32)
■ Wild Geese
■ St Brendan’s
■ St Patrick’s Palmerston
■ Parnells
■ Round Towers Lusk
■ Clanna Gael Fontenoy
■ Park Rangers
■ Liffey Gaels
■ Scoil Ui Chonaill
■ St Sylvesters
■ St Mary’s Saggart
■ Naomh Fionnbarra
■ Thoams Davis
■ St Vincent’s
■ St Margarets
■ St Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruadh
■ St Peregrine’s
■ AIB
■ Round Towers Clondalkin
■ O’Dwyers
■ Ballyboden St Enda’s
■ St Jude’s
■ Naomh Barrog
■ St James Gaels
■ Garristown
■ Raheny
■ Lucan Sarsfields
■ Clontarf
■ St Mark’s
■ Kilmacud Crokes
■ Clann Mhuire
■ Ballinteer St John’s
Junior D (44)
■ Naomh Barrog
■ Man O War
■ Wanderers
■ Innisfails
■ St Finnian’s Swords
■ Geraldine morans
■ St Brigids
■ Ballyfermot De La Salle
■ Croi Ró Naofa
■ Round Towers Clondalkin
■ Castleknock
■ Templeogue Synge Street
■ St Maur’s
■ Cuala
■ Ballyboden St Enda’s
■ Garda
■ Ballinteer St John’s
■ Trinity Gaels
■ Fingal Ravens
■ St Vincent’s
■ Thomas Davis
■ St Jude’s
■ St Patrick’s Donabate
■ Starlights
■ St Anne’s
■ Crumlin
■ St Martin’s
■ St Mary’s Saggart
■ Na Fianna
■ St Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruadh
■ Rosmini Gaels
■ Ranelagh Gaels
■ Lucan Sarsfields
■ Skerries Harps
■ O’Toole’s
■ Naomh Fionnbarra
■ St Kevin’s Kilians
■ Naomh Olaf
■ Northside Gaels
■ Ballyboughal
■ St Colmcille’s
■ Cabinteely
■ St Finnian’s Newcastle
■ Na Dubhghall
