Can Dublin Be Stopped?

Dublin are 6/5 favourites to win this year’s All-Ireland title and they’re 6/5 favourites for a reason. They’re currently the best team in the country. Their squad has the greatest strength in depth. Their path to the All-Ireland semi-finals is nigh on guaranteed and they are managed by a man who is tactically astute, level-headed and has made winning a habit. But can they be stopped from winning this year’s All-Ireland? Of course they can.Dublin may be 6/5 favourites but ask yourself this: if a bookie gave you the choice of Dublin winning the All-Ireland or any of the other 31 teams winning the All-Ireland, both at even money, who would your money be on? Dublin are a long way from the team that used to become suffocated by hype at the business end of the championship, but as was the case when they were ambushed by Donegal last year, they are still vulnerable. Looking at the Dublin team forensically, it’s hard to pick holes because it’s an impressive unit with any amount of replacements willing to take the place of any man not pulling his weight. But it’s not bulletproof. Losing one of Stephen Cluxton, Rory O’Carroll, Paul Flynn or Diarmuid Connolly would be a terrible blow. There’s no logical reason that would suggest Dublin could be stopped. There’s no scientific reason either. They’re the best side in the country. They’re the best trained side in the country. They have one of the best managers in the country. Dublin have only started getting the wheels turning on their frightening machine. Their merciless obliteration of Longford is just a taster of what is sure to come and we’re only a matter of weeks away from once again hearing the cries that the county should be split in two. Because it’s not fair. Because they’re too good.