WOMEN'S ALL-IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL: GAVIN CUMMISKEYon the return of The Jackies to
the scene of last year's gut-wrenching loss: now it's Tyrone who stand between them and history

CROKE PARK the weekend after the men’s football final is usually a fairly sedate affair. Everyone had grown accustomed to Cork’s invincibility. That is until The Jackies decided to do something about it.

Last year Dublin hit the ground running and found themselves two points clear with eight minutes remaining. Then, in a mesmerising dying kick, the Cork ladies mined deep enough to win their fifth All-Ireland title in a row.

Words like composure and accuracy spring to mind. Dublin missed a penalty. Cork captain Mary O’Connor went up the Hogan steps and let out a Rebel yell (“Some people don’t look at ladies football in the greater scheme of things, but we do.”).

It was high-performance sport.

Out on the field a harrowing scene was captured and used on the front of The Irish Times’ Monday sports section. There stood Dublin. The look of utter despair on their faces made everyone present realise just how much it meant to them.

Here was a desolate group that had left every ounce of energy behind them and for what? They had their fingertips on the Brendan Martin cup but they were pried loose by Cork’s pursuit of greatness. We awaited the second instalment of this rivalry but Tyrone interceded, ruthlessly removing Cork at the quarter-final stage.

“We never went into the game doubting we could beat them,” said the Red Hand sniper Gemma Begley this week. “It was just a matter of delivering on the day. Whenever you are training flat out there has to be rewards there.”

Simple, efficient and ruthless. Tyrone football in the modern era. Dublin take note. The northern raiders believe it is their turn now. The woman’s football landscape has altered significantly these past 12 months.

“I think one of the big things that came out of last year’s final is other counties saw it can be done because they know they are not that far off Dublin,” said Dublin manager Gerry McGill. “This year’s championship has reflected that.”

Dublin were relegated from Division One of the National League yet somehow found a way back to Croke Park tomorrow afternoon. Tyrone’s path has earned them the valuable status of being battle-hardened. They have played eight matches, losing first off to Monaghan (three-time champions in the 1990s), by a point before overcoming Down, Armagh, Leitrim, Sligo, Cork and then Kerry after a replay.

But this year should be about Dublin. Redemption must be in their hearts. There is a well of talent at their disposal despite losing veteran full back Noelle Comyn to injury.

And still we come back to that image. The Jackies, standing on the sacred turf, faces crumbled in grief. Their manager has covered his face with his right hand. Sport mirroring life.

“There was a lot of hurt and soul-searching,” McGill continued. “It was a process which went well into the National League. It was difficult and it took us a long time to talk about it as a panel.

“It was a tough way to lose a game; when you are that close but we learned in the league it wasn’t just going to happen for us again. We weren’t in a good place but in the gap before the championship we took responsibility as a management team and players. It’s been a long year.”

It’s been a longer journey for some. Mary Nevin has been part of this Dublin mission since childhood. She has grown up on this team. She kicked two points in last season’s final any intercounty man would have been proud of claiming at HQ.

Nevin talks about the pain and how Dublin have gone about ensuring it never happens again.

“I think you have to hurt really, really bad. We took some time away but made a conscious decision – it wasn’t just a case of coming back training and see how we go. We knew to get back to where we were we needed to radically change things. We knew we couldn’t play like last year and expect to win it. We got a bit smarter with a lot of the things we were doing.

“What has really shone through this year has been the use of an awful lot of players in the league. It was an investment and it really stood to us. Everyone on the panel can now make a contribution. We needed that.” That at least explains relegation.

“We expect to use up to five subs on Sunday because there is so much work to be done out on that pitch.”

What lessons can be taken from leading 0-10 to 1-5 with eight minutes remaining and then losing an All-Ireland final?

“Cork were very composed. They just seemed to keep the ball. They saw the clock was running down and they just passed it left and right and we were chasing the game. Time ran out for us. I hope that experience will stand to us.”

Dublin must reach their potential in the final quarter to improve upon last season.

Nevin adds: “We have never won an All-Ireland. Tyrone have never won an All-Ireland. With 10 minutes to go we will see who wants it more.

“It is not good enough just to be here. We know this now. We know we have to fight tooth and nail once the whistle goes.”

Dublin need this; Tyrone don’t care. Fasten your seat belts.