Hill 16- Diary of a Dub. Dublin 0-14 V Meath 0-12.

All adventures have to start somewhere and although this was not the performance Dublin fans were looking for it was the right result. My pre-match build up started with some pints in Smyths in Phibsborough. I didn't have the usual amount of pints I would have before a game as we had the pleasure of a double header on Sunday in Croke Park. The Dublin hurlers had their first game in the Leinster Championship against Antrim. Dublin hurlers ran out easy winners by ten points after a few nervous moments. Alan McCrabbe and David O'Callagahn were the star men for Dublin. The draw for the semi-final also went Dublin's way. They avoided Galway and Kilkenny and face Wexford instead. After the close games the teams had last year and the improvement in the Dublin team, they must fancy their chances. The crowd for the hurling match was very impressive. Although their wasn't a full attendance enough Dublin fans dragged themselves out of the pub to create a respectable crowd.

The main event followed. Dublin V Meath, the rivalry, the hatred, the passion, all the elements needed for a good Sunday of GAA. The atmosphere on the Hill was strangely muted considering the history of the clash. Maybe it was the unfamiliar look of the Dublin team or maybe the perceived weakness of the Meath team but the Hill magic wasn't there. My own theory was that the Dublin fans missed their ultimate hate figure Graham Geraghty. Geraghty, a fine player, had always riled up Dublin fans. When he punched David Henry in 2007 he only added gasoline to the fire. To be honest Geraghty was always a pantomime villain to the Dubs. The abuse that rained down on him from the Hill while sometimes nasty was mostly just funny. My personal favorite from 2007 was when after a tirade of pretty nasty abuse the Hill fell silent for a moment. From somewhere near the back a shout came out "Geraghty I know you have no tax on your car".

So to the match. The championship debutant's had a mixed day. Davoren was impressive until he went off injured. Heartbreakingly for him it was a cruciate ligament and he is out for the rest of the season. Apart from the Brogan's our forward line does not seem to be up to the task and our defensive problems do not appear to have been solved. Ger Brennan who starred for Vincents when they won the All Ireland Club Championship made his championship debut. Brennan is presently keeping Bryan Cullen out of the team and based on this performance I don't see why. Brennan gets forward and poses a threat but he was wasteful in possession far to often. Also his indiscipline should probably have led to him being sent off. If Gilroy can see past his club allegiance, Cullen should start in the Semi Final. There was never really a feeling that Meath could win the game although they pulled close to Dublin on a number of occasions. A two point margin probably flattered Meath a little but Dublin certainly did not impress.

The Dublin fans left Headquarters with many concerns about the Dublin team. Hopefully Gilroy will restore Cullen and Whelan to the team and our forwards will perform as a more cohesive unit as the championship progresses.

A touching scene I witnessed as I walked down the Clonliffe Road filled me with pride. A Dublin fan was walking in front of me with his child on his shoulders. The young lad couldn't of been older then 5. His Dad spotted a Meath fan walking towards him and said to his son "See the man in the green jersey laugh at him". The young lad pointed at the Meath fan as he walked by and shouted "Ha Ha". It was good to see a 'Father passing on his Dublin GAA heritage to his son. Next up is Weathmeath or Wicklow in the semi-final. I will be in Ibiza for a friends wedding for this match. Although I hate to miss a Dublin match, watching the match in a packed Irish bar in Ibiza in the summer sun will be a close second place.