By Robert McNamara
It wasn’t exactly an advertisement for GAA today at Croke Park as and Dublin eventually made easy work of minnows Fermanagh.
Thoughts should now turn to the Championship semi-finals but GAA fans are more concerned with the state of the game as trouncings are handed out by the bigger counties to the less successful ones week after week.
Fermanagh at least made a decent effort against the Dubs in the day’s second Championship game but Dublin were always in control.
Is it time for a change?
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the Dub’s victory.
Twitter debates the Championship format
All the formats, all the rejigs, never address the absolutely fundamental issue of the county system. Let's hope the #GAA isn't dying.
— Páid Ó Donnchú (@donnchup) August 2, 2015
Kerry and Dublin are like cats playing with mice #gaa
— David Kerr (@davidkerr67) August 2, 2015
Gap between top 4 teams and division 3/4 teams (Sligo, Kildare, Longford) is a ludicrous 25+ points, 15 point gap for teams in div 2.#GAA
— Brendan Needham (@brendan_needham) August 2, 2015
Surely a second tier just means a more competitive lower tier and the same old big 4 fighting it out for the top tier #gaa #SundayGame
— James Lavin (@lavinjames) August 2, 2015
Not sure people want to see 2 teams getting hammered like this in All Ireland quarter finals. Format has to change #gaa
— Felim O Donnell (@Feilser79) August 2, 2015
Two tier c'ship does not address the elephant in the room... Playing standards & buy in at club level / 'club before county' mentality #gaa
— SMcB (@StephenMcBrien) August 2, 2015
Its the predictability of the @gaa that turned me off it yrs ago. Serious work needed to bring the "lessor" counties up to par. #gaa #same
— Gavin Gray (@GavinGray) August 2, 2015
I can't stand the standard of football over this weekend. 4 savage bad games. All one sided. Don't know what needs to be done. #GAA
— Conor Keightley (@ckeightley10) August 2, 2015
All of those opposed to a 2 tier football system are right. After watching these pointless matches today, we need a 3 tier one. #GAA
— John Diskin (@diskin_john) August 2, 2015
"Tis how we'll have to go for confession after this!"- Nan, 2015.#GAA #AllIrelandSfcQuarter #DublinvFermanagh @Irishfunerals @Countrywakes 😂
— Steph Thornton (@stephasaurusVII) August 2, 2015
When did #gaa football become so boring. Both matches today did nothing for teams. The gulf in class is huge. #Embarrassing
— sportsmad (@Murph54b) August 2, 2015
Dublin got the job done and not much more
You can talk about strategy & systems all day but explosive physicality also key to top 4 dominance in #GAA at present #BaileÁthaCliath
— Chris Hazzard (@ChrisHazzardSF) August 2, 2015
Dublin tactics: stop or foul the player/ball, high up the pitch. Than get the whole team behind the ball. #DubvFerm #GAA #SundayGame
— G4R7 ™ (@S0litary_Man) August 2, 2015
Dublin with good support-play...but nothing on Glen Hansard coming off the shoulder for Ed Sheeran last week #GAA #DubFer
— Ciarán Lenehan (@CiaranLen) August 2, 2015
Bernard Brogan has enough time and space to put in his hair rollers and still score. #DUBvFER #GAA
— Damien Glynn (@damog7) August 2, 2015
Again Dublins defence is weak and hope their forwards can save them #gaa #SundayGame
— Pio O' Sullivan (@PioOSullivan) August 2, 2015
Another training session for #Dublin #GAA
— Sheila Cunningham (@Sile14) August 2, 2015
Diarmuid Connolly.....😍😍😍😍 #RightFoot #LeftFoot #Unplayable #Dublin #GAA
— Kevin Naughton (@KevinNaughton2) August 2, 2015
Who's the guy behind the goals throwing the balls to Cluxton for the quick kick outs? #santaslittlehelper #DublinFermanagh #GAA
— Damian Dowds (@dowdsie) August 2, 2015
RTE are way over praising Dublin performance. Fermanagh are useles #gaa
— Irish F1Fan #JB17 (@PJoc32) August 2, 2015
As plucky as Fermanagh were on the pitch, it was their fans who caught the eye of the Twitterati
All of Fermanagh seem to be in Croker. Great noise from them #GAA #DUBvFER
— John Ivory (@JohnBoyIvory) August 2, 2015
To beat Dublin you have to at least try to shoot. Looking at you Fermanagh! #DUBvFER #Gaa
— An Gíogóir (@AnGiogoir) August 2, 2015
... Rte show Fermanagh fans going absolutely nuts celebrating in the hill #GAA #everyscorecounts
— Gerry Walsh (@Gerry_Walsh_) August 2, 2015
So much faffing - why won't #Fermanagh run at the #Dublin defence - their full back line is their weakest line. #gaa
— Joanne Taaffe (@JoanneTaaffe) August 2, 2015
Fermanagh supporters look like they're mighty craic. #Sundaygame #Gaa
— LaobhaoiseNiEanachan (@LaobhaoiseNihE) August 2, 2015
Fermanagh too wasteful but no denying class of Bernard Brogan et al #gaa
— Stephen Maguire (@headofthetown) August 2, 2015
#Fermanagh valiantly soldiering on. Their lack of scoring ability letting them down considerably #GAA
— Jennifer Magee (@jenniesmagee) August 2, 2015
Great to see the Fermanagh fans having some banter even though we're losing horrifically #GAA
— Aoife (@AoifeMcBrien97) August 2, 2015
Fermanagh's shooting here has been a disgrace #gaa
— Barry McCann (@Bazzinho9) August 2, 2015
Love those Fermanagh fans on hill 16 today #gaa
— world cup doyle (@doylej96) August 2, 2015
Have to applaud Fermanagh on their fighting spirit. #GAA
— lorraine horan (@Lorrhoran) August 2, 2015
Should Fermanagh’s goal have counted?
Great goal great call #gaa #sundaygame
— Hugh Lynn (@lthugh) August 2, 2015
How on earth can you give a goal there?! #gaa
— Niall MacLáimh (@monaghanpenguin) August 2, 2015
Ligit goal. #GAA
— Chris Brown (@CB_PRandPA) August 2, 2015
Seen it all now giving a goal for that .... What a joke #gaa #rubbish
— Conor.mortimer (@Conmort) August 2, 2015
It's ok to push the goalkeeper? Ok then. #gaa #dublinvsfermanagh
— Cillian Bissett (@Waffleybear101) August 2, 2015
Unbelievable scenes in Croker...Dubs fans dead and the Fermanagh fans rejoicing! #Gaa
— David Rispin (@Davy_Rispin) August 2, 2015
Best part of todays #GAA is Quiggley absolutely pissing himself laughing after shoving the keeper into the goal. What a lad. #FermanaghGAA
— Jerry Lane (@JerryLane_) August 2, 2015