Gavin’s focus is on his team and not issues around punishment

Not long ago Darragh Ó Sé defined the melee as a “mindset”, more about “getting the upper hand mentally” than going out to hurt someone.

Writing in this newspaper last July, Ó Sé reckoned the melee was about “making a stand, sending out a message”, and not all aimed at the opposition either. It’s about “we’re not going to be bullied here today”.

So, while Sunday’s defeat at the hands of perennial rivals Kerry might not necessarily have upset Dublin manager Jim Gavin, certain components of it still did – including, it seems, that end-of-match melee. It was relatively minor given the game was effectively over, and yet Gavin hardly concealed his concern.

It wasn’t so much that Kerry sent out a message that they were not going to be bullied: Gavin’s concern also appeared to be that his players were more prone to punishment, for whatever reason. Sunday’s game – while far from dirty – ended with 12 cards in all: one red, five yellow, and two black for Dublin, and two yellow and two black for Kerry.

“It’s something I can’t control; my focus is only on the Dublin team,” said Gavin, when asked if he felt Dublin were being single out for extra punishment.

“I’d be pleased, about my own players, in terms of their discipline, in that any hits they took they got straight back up, played the game, and didn’t try to influence the referee. They just played good honest football, which is what we’d expect of them.”

When asked about the red card shown late on to Michael Fitzsimons for his part in that melee, Gavin described the card as a “bit reactionary” and “it was absolutely” something Dublin would appeal if they felt compelled to on reviewing the tape of the game.

What is certain is that Sunday’s defeat represents a notable setback in Dublin’s quest to win a third Allianz League title in succession. With only one win in their three opening games they are currently tried with Monaghan, with only Derry below them.

Next up on Saturday evening are their other perennial rivals Tyrone, who come to Croke Park in good form. The last three league meetings between the teams have been decided by a single point.

Despite their slightly precarious position, Gavin won’t be changing any emphasis nor rushing back his two highest profile St Vincent’s players Diarmuid Connolly and Ger Brennan even though their club run ended over two weeks ago.

Gavin also confirmed he was not looking at any other St Vincent’s players other than those two. “I’ve left them alone for a while. They had a fantastic journey, the last two years, and those players need to recharge the batteries. They’re very keen to come back, but we’ll give them time.”

The same, it seems, goes for goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton and midfielder Michael Darragh Macauley.

“They’re training away, but we’re trying to give players the chance to stake their place in the starting 15 and within the panel as well,” said Gavin. Nor is he tempted to hurry the injury return of the likes of James McCarthy and Paul Flynn. “No, they’re training, and playing internal games, and when they’re ready we will play them. We’ve a process to go through, and the league is a competition which means an awful lot to us, but the focus for us is the championship. It’s always has been out number one focus. The championship, the Leinster championship, then the league. That’s the tier we’ve always approached.”

Gavin also raised his concern over the enduring problem of player welfare and burn-out. John Small had been named at centre-back for Sunday’s game, but was pulled before the game due to a leg muscle injury picked up playing Trench Cup last weekend with St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. Midfielder Emmet O Conghaile was also replaced before the game after he injured himself playing for his club Lucan Sarsfields.

“The way the third-level competition is designed, and despite all the advice given by Dr Pat O’Neill and his committee, playing games back-to-back isn’t in the best welfare. And he [John Small] picked up a soft tissue injury from playing two games inside 24 hours.”

Meanwhile, there is still no decision yet on if or when Alan Brogan will be returning to the Dublin fold. “His wife is expecting their second child, any day now,” said Gavin. “So that’s where his focus needs to be, with his family. We’ve spoken in the background, and when he’s ready, I’ll be ready.”

For new Kerry football captain Kieran Donaghy, Sunday’s victory had little to do with their poor recent league run against Dublin, but simply about making a stand, sending out a message.

“We’re about the future now. If you’re thinking about games two years ago they don’t really have an effect on what we are as a team or what we’re trying to achieve or work on. It’s about this Dublin team against this Kerry team on March 1st, 2015.

“We just felt it was an important game for us to get two points on the board and keep moving and build the momentum that the boys achieved two weeks ago in Derry. It was important to get a victory.”