Gavin not concerned over Dubs’ red rash

Allianz FL Division 1: Kildare v Dublin

Ger Brennan, who misses tomorrow’s game against Kildare because of a one-match ban arising from the win over Mayo, is the third player to have received a red card this season following Michael Darragh Macauley against Kerry and Denis Bastick in the O’Byrne Cup final defeat to Kildare.

Under Pat Gilroy, Dublin had a similar poor disciplinary return in the league last year but Gavin doesn’t believe it is symptomatic of a problem in his ranks.

“No, not at all. Look, Mayo had three yellow cards in the game and we had none. So it’s not indiscipline in the squad, from talking to them and observing them closely, it’s not an issue.

“I’m not going to make excuses about any of them, it’s completely unacceptable but I don’t see it as an issue.”

Gavin revealed Brennan apologised for the kicking incident that led to his sending off against Mayo last weekend.

However, he defended his centre-back for protecting himself against Donal Vaughan after the Mayo defender accosted him after kicking the ball under Mikey Conroy. “It’s not acceptable,” he said of the red card. “I spoke to Ger afterwards when we reviewed it. Ger accepts the penalty that he received.

“In terms of his high forearm, he just stood his ground. He was charged by a player. What else was he to do?

“But kicking the ball on the ground, that’s the one that disappointed me. However, Ger has apologised to the squad and he’s just thankful they rallied hard to beat a very good Mayo side.

Cian O’Sullivan, who is expected to be chosen in midfield for tomorrow’s top-of-the-table clash, anticipates things will get heated against Kildare.

“I suppose it is something that you always expect between two neighbouring counties, there is always that extra bit of rivalry there.

“When you look back at the last couple of contests we had against each other, they have been hotly-contested games and there has been a lot of competition there.

“So I am expecting the same on Sunday again, especially given the fact that both teams have been going well this year and one of us is going to have to lose that record.”

Gavin has been impressed by how Kieran McGeeney has managed to expose his U21 players to competitive league games.

“They have certainly regrouped and Jason Ryan’s inclusion to the backroom team has paid dividends.

“Their U21 players are playing extremely well — (Niall) Kelly and (Daniel) Flynn — and they look more structured at the back, attacking from very deep with great pace from defence.

“Seanie Johnston is in a rich vein of form, and Tomás O’Connor is really adding to the scoreboard. They seem a more balanced team this year.”

Gavin admits he was surprised by the Dublin U21s’ shock defeat to Longford on Wednesday and will now assess whether to bring more of them into his panel.

“It’s always going to be a case by case basis. Certainly we have to review it. I wasn’t planning, I suppose, for Wednesday to happen. We will try to introduce some of the players in the remaining league matches.

“We are building for the Championship. That’s what we are about.”

Meanwhile, Dublin have been assigned their usual Hill 16 side dressing room in the Hogan Stand for tomorrow’s game and will warm-up on that side of the stadium despite Kildare being the official home team.