Dublin manager Jim Gavin has requested a greater degree of consistency from his panel ahead of their NFL Division 1 encounter against Down at Croke Park this evening (7.00).
Despite heading the league table on scoring difference, recording four wins from five games, the Dubs still require a point from their final two games to confirm their semi-final berth following their narrow reverse to Tyrone last weekend.
“It was a disappointing result for us. The players knew that they had underperformed when we discussed the match afterwards.
“They all Knew that the performance produced on Saturday wasn’t what was required from that particular group of players,” said Gavin.
Given the hyperbole that greeted some of Dublin’s earlier displays this spring, the defeat to Tyrone has helped curb expectations although whether Gavin has learnt more from that uneven showing is open to question.
“We review quite clinically every performance, victory or defeat. What I am looking for is consistency in the performance and we haven’t got that yet in any of the games despite the results we achieved.
“Some of the finishing, we have worked on that during the week and hopefully we will see an improvement on that at the weekend. Our defensive structure as well was at times disorganised so it is incremental progress in that regard,” he added.
A similar level of inconsistency has bedevilled this evening’s opponent Down, who arrive in Dublin in desperate need for points after a solitary league success to date.
However, despite their standing, Gavin is insistent that due regard with be paid to their challenge and he expects another tough encounter from the Mourne men.
“It’s going to be very competitive. Down have been unlucky not to get some points in a good few games, particularly the Cork game is one they probably should have won.
“Defensively they’re very well organised and hit you hard on the counter-attack and they’ve some marquee forwards that, if given space, will score. They’re coming down to Croke Park to play Dublin which is a motivation in itself and they need the two points so it’s going to be a really tough game for both sides,” said the Round Towers, Clondalkin, clubman.
Gavin’s attacking hand could be helped by the return to competitive action of Bernard Brogan, with the hip injury that forced his omission from the starting line-up against Tyrone not expected to exclude him from duty for too long.
A different prognosis, however, surrounds Ciarán Kilkenny, who was removed from action in the early stages last Saturday and Gavin confirmed that his knee sprain may not be fully resolved for up to six weeks.
There is brighter news regarding three of Dublin’s more long-term casualties with Alan Brogan, Eoghan O’Gara and Michael Fitzsimons back training although it is unlikely that trio of All-Ireland winners will experience competitive action prior to the county’s championship opener in early June.
Their return should enhance an already competitive environment that Gavin has looked to foster since his arrival and that panel depth is the foundation for what he hopes is a long and fruitful summer.
“In every position, from goalkeeper up, we are trying to achieve strong competition in each and every one of those slots. They are all replaceable. It’s the ‘next man up’ concept,” concluded Gavin.
