Don't expect Dubs to fold up the tent for 2024

And that's a wrap. The 2023 season is done and the Dubs are back on top, as some of us predicted from the start.

I think everyone was struck by the scenes at the final whistle last Sunday and the intensity of the celebrations from the Dublin players, most of whom had bundles of All-Ireland medals already.

After the finals we lost to Dublin, I never detected that level of emotion in them. Joy, certainly. Even an attitude of 'Yeah! We beat them, f**k them.'

But not that level of wistful emotion.

It was striking how they talked about Dessie Farrell and how much it mattered to deliver an All-Ireland for him. Personally, I found the stuff about the 'flak' he had supposedly received pretty overstated. If he did get severe criticism, then it went over my head anyway.

That being said, Dessie is due a bit of credit. He's won two All-Irelands in four years and lost two All-Ireland semi-finals where there was only a kick of a ball in it. It's not a bad CV to depart with, if it turns out to be his last year.

The game itself probably didn't live up its lofty billing, though the weather wouldn't have helped. The first half in particular was very aggressive and intense, with defences suffocating attacks. Both teams were a bit cagey, unwilling to make a mistake.

With the Kerry goal arriving on the stroke of half-time, the second half was a bit more open and end-to-end. The Paddy Small goal was obviously a huge turning point. At that moment, Kerry had run three points in front and appeared to be in control of the contest.

They reacted well, going three points up again, but the effort expended in doing that may have impacted them down the line.

Dublin's big players came to the fore in the endgame. Jack McCaffrey was immense when he came on, having