Gavin has Dubs taking direct route

Carlow 1-12 Dublin 3-13

Still, Jim Gavin was quick to play down just how direct his Dublin team were in the comfortable win over Carlow in the O’Byrne Cup yesterday.

Making the ball work over heavy sod is logical and it certainly paid dividends for the visitors especially in the first half when they led by seven points after 22 minutes. The long ball tactic worked a treat for young Robert McCarthy who, like his namesake Micheál on the same stage and Dr Cullen Park venue last year, impressed.