In August 2014, Jim Gavin’s Dubs seemed unstoppable. They were playing football at a level not seen in years – overwhelming opposition and seemingly growing stronger with every game.
Nobody saw it coming: Donegal’s beautifully timed semi-final ambush. The Ulstermen laid bare a chink in the Sky Blues’ armour; a tactical hole which Gavin immediately set about filling.
Dublin would not lose a championship game again for 2,540 days …
Eric Haughan deep-dives into Dublin's seven years in footballing nirvana, an era of dominance and drama in which Gaelic football changed forever.
Reviewing crucial matches and speaking to players and backroom staff, he pieces together the story of arguably the greatest side the game has ever seen … and the teams who tried to catch them.
Table of Contents:
Foreword by John O’Leary 9
Chapter One. Day Zero: 2014 17
Chapter Two. Back on Top: 2015 26
Chapter Three. Mayo Mayhem: 2016 50
Chapter Four. The 60-Second Kickout: 2017 73
Chapter Five. Twelve Minutes: 2018 104
Chapter Six. So Long, Jim. And Thanks: 2019 132
Chapter Seven. Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful: 2020 166
Chapter Eight. Hell or Connaught: The 2,540th Day: 2021 184
Chapter Nine. Reflections 205
Chapter Ten. Where to Now? 2022–2024 212
Chapter Eleven. Best of the Best: Dubs v Rest of World 233
Chapter Twelve. Lies, Damned Lies, And … 240
Chapter Thirteen. The Games: (About) A Decade of the Dubs 246
Index 289
Acknowledgements 299
About the Author :
ERIC HAUGHAN is a multimedia sports journalist with RTÉ Online. He has been involved with his local St Finian’s Newcastle club since childhood, and he now coaches their ladies’ team. Eric’s idea of a day well spent is hitting the road with his daughter to catch the Dubs in pre-season mode at an obscure provincial ground. This is his first book.
Review :
a cracking read
timely and vital … forensic, engaging catalogue of a team that pushed the GAA boundaries out into uncharted terrain. A must-read for citizens of Hill 16
In Eric Haughan’s Unbeatable — Dublin’s Incredible Six in a Row, a tome has been released that does justice to that period of unprecedented dominance, chronicling their triumphs and odd torment. A book that simply had to be written … Haughan has succeeded in articulating a simply outstanding period for a team featuring some of the greatest to have graced the sport
we’re going into the Christmas season; this will be a fantastic stocking filler
every point, every goal, every scorer … a stocking filler for Dubs fans
brilliant
relives the glory days … a must for the token Dub in your life
