Football / News: At yesterday's launch of the Allianz National Leagues, GAA president Seán Kelly referred to Paul Caffrey having perhaps the most pressurised job in the GAA.
The relentless media focus on Dublin's footballers is, however, something Caffrey has handled with cautious assurance in his first year and that measured approach isn't about to evolve into anything more flamboyant.
He helped himself with a successful first season, registering steady improvement but that makes progress this year a more advanced challenge - a ratchet effect he clearly sees when assessing how much further he needs to travel.
"In terms of percentages it's very hard to know. Last year . . . come the championship we had a comfortable win over Longford but we could have lost the other three matches in Leinster. That's how tight it is. Meath have shown their hand; they're coming back with a new spirit.
"Laois are on our side of the draw and we have to travel away for our first round this year. It's very, very tight. It's not as if we're in the top three. Last year showed that there is a gap."
The task facing the team in the league has been complicated by having for the second year running to travel for the hardest looking fixtures. "There would have been a slight disappointment when that draw came out and we thought, 'hang on, Kerry, Cork and Tyrone away. I thought this worked year-by-year.' But that's what it is and we can't do anything about it. It's hard to get away wins and we haven't got many in recent years. But that's the medicine. Now go and take it."
Dublin have played their home fixtures wherever possible under floodlights at Parnell Park on a Saturday evening. This year Monaghan have declined to switch their match from Sunday afternoon but Caffrey is an enthusiastic supporter of the new trend.
"From the players' point of view it fits into the schedule. You drop your Saturday morning training session and the players play on Saturday night and they're free on Sunday. It gives them back a bit of their lives.
"This thing of being down in Kerry on a Sunday and travelling back to Dublin nursing your bruises and back into work on a Monday morning - it's very hard on players. We looked for our home games to be played under lights. Some teams agreed; others didn't."
Dublin won't be at full-strength for a while. The Kilmacud players are getting ready for the All-Ireland club semi-final against Salthill and reserve goalkeeper Paul Copeland will make his league debut on Sunday in the absence of Stephen Cluxton, who is taking a week's break after completing exams last week.
The RTÉ documentary on the team's 2005 season caused mild controversy due to its colourful language but Caffrey is happy with the programme. "We discussed it with the players and management and the deal was if anyone felt it was intrusive he'd pull out . . . There are a lot of supporters who don't really understand what the players give in pursuit of success. Even from that angle it was worth while."
