Gilroy: Pressure was not a burden

Heavy is the head that wears the crown as Dublin discovered yesterday, becoming the third team in succession to relinquish their All-Ireland title in the first season defending it.

However, manager Pat Gilroy was quick to dismiss the suggestion that defending the Sam Maguire Cup had been a burden on them.

Even if their first 60 minutes yesterday were just as sluggish as their previous three championship games, he refused to believe the tell-tale signs were there from an early part in their summer.