To a neutral the game may not have lived up to the quality hoped for from the two best gaelic football teams in the country, but that will neither dampen the enthusiasm of the winners nor the frustration of the losers after Sunday’s All Ireland Final.
For Dublin it was a second victory in three years, after a gap of 16 without a victory, and with a young team and a new manager that promises much more in the years to come.
For Mayo, the search goes on. Seven final defeats now since the last of three wins, back in 1951 and despite the close call on the scoreboard, this was a game that Dublin may have won a bit more comfortably than the numbers of 2-12 to 1-14.
For an analysis of the match itself there will be other, far more comprehensive reports to be found but on Sport for Business we focus on the elements that lie behind the scenes and that make days like yesterday possible. Here are five points to consider in the aftermath of the game.
This Sporting Nation – The All Ireland is appropriately named as it brings together leaders and stars from across the sporting spectrum. In and around the ground yesterday we waved to senior officials from within Rugby, Soccer, Cricket and Paralympic Sport. They were there to enjoy a great sporting occasion, and one that everybody can marvel at. The Sunday Miscellany on RTE on Sunday morning summed up some great stories from the sport including at 32:30 a great take on the importance of sport to family life from Tim Carey.
The Friendly Fans – In a game as tight, with as many frees conceded, one could be forgiven an element of frustration and tension in the ground but in every area, from Hill 16 to the Hogan Stand, Mayo and Dublin fans stood side by side, passionate in support of their team but willing to shake hands at the end and say “we’ll meet again next year.” Could the same have been the case at the Manchester Derby in the Premier League that took place at the same time?
The Brogan Factor – Bernard Brogan won the game for Dublin with his two goals and Man of the Match display but he has had an equally impressive year in suit as opposed to boots. His Legacy Consultants have struck a number of deals between Dublin GAA and partner organisations, the most obvious of which was the one with Dublin’s Gibson Hotel which replaced the Burlington as the venue of choice for the winning party last night.
The Dublin Opportunity – Vodafone’s sponsorship of the Dublin team has lasted three years and produced two All Ireland victories. That is some achievement but we believe that the current deal will come to a premature end in the next week and that a new sponsorship model will be unveiled with the introduction of a number of brands that will see engagement with fans as more important than a single logo on a jersey.
The Heart of the Game – The rush for tickets was more nerve wracking than ever this year. Many fans who would have liked to have been there did not get a ticket and will have had to watch from afar. But over the final days and hours the logjam did free up as the distributional channel through clubs began to flow. It may have been that there was one rather than two tickets and difficult choices made within families but for the most part those who play their part in the fabric of the GAA in Dublin, Mayo and Tyrone were present at Croke Park. There was talk of tickets changing hands for €5,000 and maybe that was true but in all honesty, the vast, vast majority of tickets for Sunday will have gone into the right hands, at face value, and created emotions, either of joy or despair that will ensure the commitment at club level goes on. And that these great days continue to be built on the strong foundation of weekend mornings, late night meetings and digging deep within the GAA community.
Click below for details of the Sport for Business Events Programme
Sports Sponsorship Showcase
Sports Analytics Round Table
Sports Tourism Seminar
Irish Sponsorship Awards
Sports Philanthropy Round Table
Youth Sports Conference
