Gavin insists Dublin minds on job

Dublin manager Jim Gavin insists the Paddy McBrearty bite saga hasn’t affected his side’s Allianz Football League final preparations.

The Dublin player hit with a proposed three-match ban for biting Donegal forward McBrearty during their April 7 drawn game came before the GAA’s Central Hearings Committee last night. He contested the proposed sanction and is expected to learn his fate today.

Manager Gavin finally broke his silence on the situation ahead of last night’s meeting, insisting the drawn out affair hasn’t impacted on the team.

“With Dublin, there are lots of distractions and as a player myself, I would have been acutely aware of all the distractions that there are in Dublin,” said Gavin.

“Players get accustomed to just getting inside the tent and focusing on the game. These last number of weeks, throughout the whole season, it’s been no different.

“They’re always focused on the next game and the energy has been really, really good in the camp the last number of weeks. Obviously, going into a National League final, why wouldn’t it?”

Dublin defender Ger Brennan was critical earlier this week about the slow pace of the GAA’s disciplinary process. It is closing in on three weeks since the alleged incident took place between the Dublin player and McBrearty at MacCumhaill Park.

Brennan claimed the GAA’s disciplinary process moves almost as slowly as the Catholic Church but Gavin said he agreed with director general Páraic Duffy, who defended the process.

“He [Duffy] is satisfied with the process and so am I,” continued Gavin. “The big thing within the Gaelic Athletic Association is that we’re all volunteers, from most of the administrators to the players and the coaching and managerial staff.

“So they are giving freely of their time for the process. It just takes as long as it takes. Whatever other sporting organisations that are professional do, the way they do their business, that is no real concern of mine.”

The Sky Blues player, who Dublin have so far refused to publicly identify, could take his case to the Central Appeals Committee as early as this evening, if unsuccessful at CHC level. After that, he has the option of appealing to the Disputes Resolution Authority.