Gavin now has time to focus

We found out last week it’s being in front of dictaphones, not making decisions on the sideline, Jim Gavin feels is the most demanding part of his time as Dublin boss.

He got the media work out of the way early last Wednesday, giving him an ample-sized clear run-in to a Leinster semi-final that marks their third meeting with Kildare this year.

It’s also the same stage where they met in 2011 when Kildare were aggrieved by referee Cormac Reilly’s decision to award Bernard Brogan the winning free. Prior to a late Eamonn Callaghan goal, Pat Gilroy’s Dublin side were in control, but Gavin hasn’t detected any reminiscing about that clash which left something of a bad taste at least in Kildare mouths.