RORY GALLAGHER SAYS that calls for Dublin’s funding from the GAA to be reduced and suggestions for the capital to be ‘split’ are a ‘cop out’.
Gallagher, whose Donegal side face the unbeaten Dubs at Croke Park on Saturday night, is of the opinion that Dublin shouldn’t be ‘punished’.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Dublin received 47 per cent of the total development funding from Croke Park, pocketing a cool €1,460,400, dwarfing the sums allocated elsewhere, like the €40,200 given to Donegal.
In the past, the prospect of splitting Dublin has been mooted, but Gallagher believes the Dubs should be left as they are.
“I think it’s a cop-out,” he told Donegal Sport Hub.
“They do have huge numbers and they do have huge resources – but that has always been the situation.
“Dublin shouldn’t be penalised for the amount of work that they’re doing. I played in Dublin and I witnessed it first hand.
“There is a hardcore of 15-16,000 who turn up for Dublin League games and they’re the huge part of the Dublin GAA circle.”
After Dublin won Sam Maguire last year, former Donegal manager Jim McGuinness said the champions were operating at ‘Premier League level’ .
McGuinness mentioned how he had sourced external benefactors to fund Donegal training camps whilst he was Donegal boss to compete with Dublin.
“For me the gap is only going to get bigger,” McGuinness said.
“For me the gulf is getting bigger and it’s going to continue to get bigger until it’s addressed within the Association that gives all the counties a really good opportunities.”
Dublin are big business, as shown by their multi-million euro sponsorship deal with AIG, while their other commercial partners include Aer Lingus, Ballygowan, Benetti Menswear, Toyota, The Gibson Hotel and Bavaria.
Former players Bryan Cullen – ‘High Performance Manager’ – and Thomas Quinn – ‘Commerical and Marketing Manager’ – have been appointed to jobs with the Dublin County Board.
But Gallagher feels that, at the core, Dublin is just like any other county.
Gallagher played for St Brigid’s in the capital and won Dublin and Leinster titles in 2003.
He said: “There is an unbelievable commitment to the cause and it’s exactly the same as any parish or any community in the country.
“The difference is that when we won the county title with St Brigid’s, everyone didn’t necessarily know everyone eslse – but that’s because the club is so big. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a serious community spirit there.
“It’s actually something to be seen. I had an absolutely brilliant time playing down there.
“To see the level of numbers and the level of work, time and commitment they’re putting in is phenomenal. The clubs in Dublin are almost like mini county boards.”
Donegal will travel to the capital on Friday ahead of the fixture. Dublin have won five-from-five so far while Donegal have lost their last two games – against Kerry and Roscommon.
Dublin defeated Donegal 2-10 to 0-11 in the League at Croke Park last year, but now, a game against The Dubs at GAA Headquarters is just the ticket – and Gallagher is relishing the task.
He said: “We’re really looking forward to getting into Croke Park and trying to be competitive. These games are usually pretty pacy. We were down there for the second game last year and it was that way.
“It’s that wee bit different from a normal League game.
‘The Championship is a long way off still, but as dry runs go this is a great opportunity.
“It’s a chance to play the best team in the country over the last number of years. That’s a great challenge for us and one we have to look forward to.
“They’re the number 1 team in the country and they’re the form team in the League too. They’re undefeated and this will give us a great idea of where we’re at.
“In the League, you don’t always know where you’re at and what phase of training that other teams are in. But you can always be sure that Dublin will be at full tilt and when they’re in Croke Park they’re a very dangerous animal.”
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