Dublin GAA chief executive John Costello has launched a scatching attack on critics of Jim Gavin.
In his annual report to the county congress he addressed what he called 'myths' about the Dublin senior football team.
Costello rejected suggestions that Dublin's footballers and hurlers have meals delivered to their homes and denied their treatment as being "five star", or "all expenses paid".
Some of the commentary around Dublin’s perceived ‘advantages’ - such as population and finance - is both repetitive and often, quite frankly, misinformed.
Under the heading Our 'Advantages’ Costello stated: “Firstly, I'd like to address a number of recurring 'beliefs' about our current set-up at senior intercounty level.
Myth 1: Our senior teams have meals delivered to their homes on a daily basis or ever in fact.
UNTRUE.
Myth 2: Our senior teams are given five-star, 'all-expenses paid' treatment.
UNTRUE.
“Here's a short story to illustrate such myths concerning our senior footballers! The hard yards every year are done in Innisfails GAA club in late winter/spring before they move to St Clare's, DCU for Championship preparation.
“Last year, two training sessions were cut short owing to floodlight failure at Innisfails. On investigation, it turned out this was caused by a player, who had to return to the dressing rooms following injury on the pitch, who turned on a heater which cut short the circuit!
“Nothing five-star about that!”
Dublin detractors also received both barrels from Costello in a tirade that more closely resonated with Father Ted’s 'Golden Cleric' acceptance speech, than a report reflecting on the fortunes of Dublin GAA in 2017.
“A quick spin through this type of 'commentary' post this year's decider against Mayo goes something like this - full-time whistle sounds; Stephen Cluxton lifts Sam; split Dublin in two, actually make that four; these conceited Dubs might be liked by some but they'll never be loved; these unpatriotic Dubs they should be forced to surrender the GPO!”
Costello doesn’t name any particular pundits in his impassioned defence of Jim Gavin instead branding the unknown agitator as Mr Flip-Flop.
The Sunday Independent writer Paul Kimmage criticised Gavin’s behaviour in the wake of the All Ireland final claiming he showed a lack of grace.
Kimmage bemoaned what he perceived to be a slight during Gavin post match press conference.
Appearing on Off The Ball the journalist claimed the Dublin manager showed a lack of empathy towards Mayo and branded his actions in his press conference as disrespectful.
Addressing criticism of the Dublin manager, Costello wrote:
“Some of the 'rhetoric' was in fact so puerile it was like a collaboration between Roger Hargreaves, the author of the Mr Men series of books, and the writers of that timeless classic, The Magic Roundabout!
"There used by a perennial column written in some publication about the dangers of the 'Cult of the Manager' maybe some commentators should examine the 'Cult of Me' which seems very much in vogue with some of them.
"For example have a go at the Dubs, then sit back, get invited as a paid guest onto various radio shows etc - kerching, cha-ching, cha-ching, kerching!”
The astonishing attack didn’t end there. He continued to attack the unnamed pundit only referred to as Mr Fli-Flop.
It looks as if I had the last laugh. Now, we move on to the liars...
“Jim was again held up to much ridicule and inaccurate reporting,” Costello continued.
“The atmospheres in the rivals’ dressing rooms after an All-Ireland final could not be any more polar. One utter delirium, the other utter dejection.
“As Jim, rightly, does not see his first priority as Dublin manager to provide a 'Turn Down' service for the media, he was accused of effectively being very hostile and that his delay in getting to the media area was provocative.
“Perhaps we'll have to get Jim to wear a GPS tracker in future, to give up to the second information on his location. In fact, I think there was a spare one knocking around on All-Ireland Final Sunday!
“The truth of the matter is different though. After celebrating and congratulating his players, management and backroom staff, the squad and members of management made time for pictures with a young Derry supporter with special needs.
“This young lad and his family had requested that he could spend some time with the Dublin players and management after the game and the team and management gladly obliged.
“Moving on. In response to 'Mr Flip-Flop', neither his real name nor a real Mr Men character, obviously these Dublin players will never be loved the length and breadth of the country, but they are liked, admired and respected by plenty outside the county.
“In fact, in terms of within the county, I don't think, in my lifetime association with Dublin, that I have ever witnessed as strong a connection between our supporters and the current team and vice versa.
“And finally, you will be glad to read that! suggestions that Dublin players had 'snubbed' the International Rules were totally untrue. Any player who was asked out for trials with the Irish team could not commit fully for the entire term owing to club commitments, or injury, or work.
“Despite Jack McCaffrey highlighting this for one commentator, in plenty of time before publication, it was still dressed up as a 'Dubs snub' story with, what read as some half-hearted disclaimer, stuck in.”
Stuck in is right, John.
