ROBIN WILLIAMS ONCE said that Spring is nature’s way of saying “let’s party”.
Dublin County Board took heed and the launch in 2011 of their Spring Series has been a revelation, with competitive ticket prices and attractive fixtures bringing in healthy crowds.
The inaugural Spring Series double-header on February 19 2011 of Dublin-Tipp, Dublin-Cork attracted 35,028 people, while 23,720 showed up for the Dublin-Kerry, Dublin-Kilkenny show – the lattermost being a camogie fixture.
Perhaps more importantly for fans, Dublin fans have had to endure defeat just once in seven senior fixtures between their hurlers and footballers; that when 45,838 turned up to see Kerry fairly dismantle the All-Ireland champions this February in a repeat of their pulsating September championship decider (as part of a double-header with Tyrone-Kildare). Add in the single draw for Dublin and there is a winning rate of 71%, and a losing rate of just 14%. Little wonder they had such a good 2011 in both codes.
Anthony Daly’s men were first of any side to play in the 2011 series and that was against then All-Ireland hurling champions, Tipperary, who they beat by a point on a day when Conal Keaney announced himself as the capital men’s new leading light.
The only other side Dublin hurlers played in the series in 2011 was champions in waiting, Kilkenny, with whom they drew. Though fast-forward a few weeks and the boys in blue soundly walloped the Cats in the league final at the same venue.
So while 2011 saw Dublin senior teams unbeaten, the camogie team was trounced by Kilkenny team but the capital’s minor footballers ran up another cricket score against Laois in the Leinster football league.
All in all, it’s been as much a success for Dublin off the pitch as it has on it. Even if 2012 brought the Metropolitan fans down to earth with a bump against a dominant Kerry side.
That can happen to All-Ireland champions, after all they toppled both in the first ever Spring Series double-header. Spring is for parties, and for party-poopers, it seems.
2011
Saturday, February 19
Dublin 1-16 Tipperary 1-15 (Hurling)
Entertainment: Jedward
Dublin 3-13 Cork 0-16 (Football)
Saturday, February 26
Dublin 0-05 Kilkenny 7-16 (Camogie)
Entertainment: Damien Dempsey
Dublin 3-10 Kerry 1-15 (F)
Sunday, March 20
Dublin 3-21 Laois 0-05 (Leinster minor football league)
Entertainment: Horslips
Dublin 4-15 Mayo 3-13 (F)
Saturday, April 4
Dublin 1-17 Kilkenny 3-11 (H)
Entertainment: Jedward
Dublin 2-10 Down 0-13 (F)
2012
Saturday, February 4
Dublin 0-11 Kerry 1-14 (F)
Entertainment: Rubberbandits