Dublin manager Jim Gavin still learning on the job

If Jim Gavin is even remotely bothered about Dublin losing their opening game in the Allianz League then he’s not showing it. If anything he’s more bothered about the Seattle Seahawks losing the Super Bowl.

Like many people, it seems, Gavin stayed up late on Sunday night as the Seahawks decided to pass, instead of run, from the one-yard line, with just 26 seconds left – despite boasting the NFL’s best running back in Marshawn Lynch. So, New England Patriots rookie Malcolm Butler intercepted, and the rest is Super Bowl history.

Whatever about his emotional reticence, Gavin is a more candid tactician, and the move clearly fascinated him.

It was the first topic of conversation at Parnell Park as the Dublin manager – speaking at the announcement of the county’s new hydration partners, Britvic Ireland – also looked ahead to Saturday’s second round showdown against Donegal at Croke Park, a rematch of last year’s All-Ireland semi-final.

Stadium clock

One thing Gavin believes the GAA can definitely learn from the NFL is the value of the clock-and-hooter system, where the time-keeping is taken out of the referee’s hands, and displayed on the stadium clock for all to see.

But despite considerable research and initial Central Council approval it now appears the GAA won’t be implementing such a system after all.

“I’d be disappointed if it didn’t happen, because it seemed pretty straightforward to me, and I think would add more excitement to the game,” says Gavin.

“So it’s a little bit baffling why it hasn’t taken place. If a team is bringing players on late in the game, to run the clock out, then put it in (rule) that the clock stops, too.

“I think the games are exciting anyway, but it would really add to it, particularly when the games are so close.”

Indeed Dublin’s game with Cork last Sunday was very close, the one minute of additional time viewed by some as a little slim.

“It’s the referee’s call,” says Gavin, “so I’m not going to make an issue that there should be more time.

“Naturally, a lot of games finish on the last kick out, and that’s the way it’s been traditionally. But it works in other sports, that if a team has possession, and the clock runs out, they kick it out over the sideline.

Finished off

“We saw it on the weekend, in the Super Bowl, when the quarterback kneels. Or in rugby they kick it out into the stand and the game is over. It’s a definite line in the sand in terms of when the game concludes.”

Clock-and-hooter system or not, Dublin were ultimately finished off by Donegal well before the final whistle in last summer’s All-Ireland semi-final.

Earlier this week Dublin forward Paul Flynn described that defeat as “like a bereavement”, although Gavin was more pragmatic – highlighting the fact that of the six major competitions Dublin have entered in his two years as manager (two league, two Leinster, and two All-Ireland), they have won five.

“We didn’t perform, that’s the big thing. We’ve always gone after a performance, trying to work on that process, and that process didn’t work against a very good Donegal side. We created over 30 scoring chances but didn’t take them unfortunately, and some things defensively didn’t work.

“Absolutely, there was lots of learning, as there is in every game. Of the five out of six competitions we have entered and won over the last two years, no matter if we win or lose, the process always remains the same, in terms of reflecting and looking back on things we did well, and others that didn’t work out as well as planned.

“But what I’ve learned about this team over the last three years is that they are a mentally tough group of men. They were, naturally, disappointed by the way the game went, but quite quickly, they picked themselves up, and they’re very motivated for the season ahead.

“We are hugely aware that if we remain static and don’t have growth in our game-plan that teams will pass us by and that is one of the challenges that we had coming out of that game and one of the major learning points.”

Gavin is certain to continue to utilise more of his fringe players on Saturday, keeping the likes of Bernard Brogan and Stephen Cluxton in reserve.

Gavin also confirmed Ciarán Kilkenny and Kevin O’Brien are both nearing match fitness in their comeback from cruciate injuries, and may play some role on Saturday night.

Small injury

“It’s a possibility. They’re certainly there, available for selection now. But there were a number of players that performed well in the pre-season tournament, that we wanted to give more game time to.

“Stephen (Cluxton) has a small injury. Bernard is playing a bit with his club. Michael Darragh Macauley is playing with his club too. Paddy Andrews is back. Philly McMahon is back as well, of players who were there last year.

“We’ve others on the injury list (Paul Flynn, Cian O’Sullivan, James McCarthy), and we hope they’ll return to play before the end of the league.

“Again, there is a certain group of players we want to give more game time to, the guys with the colleges and under-21s, before that really heats up.”

Not that defending the league is any less of a priority:

“No, I think if you look back to the squads we played last year, and in 2013, we’re always spreading the net. We want to get performances, and getting players onto the pitch to get through that process of getting performances on the field of play.”