Gavin: We didn’t expect this

So, back-to-back 16-point victories for Jim Gavin and his Dublin side but he’s not struggling to keep a straight face.

No, his post-match press conference yesterday was delivered in the professionally pragmatic and at times clipped manner you’d expect from a former member of the air corps.

Asked if the 16-points win was the best under his stewardship, he disagreed. “We always have areas to improve on. Certainly, there were some nice passages of play and some well-constructed scores but we’re always looking for improvement and it’s not coming from me, it’s coming from the players. They’ll drive it on. We were looking for a result today and we got it.”

Quizzed about the win being down to Dublin’s excellence or Kildare’s mediocrity, Gavin praised his forward for taking their chances.

He also acknowledged it had been easier for Dublin than either he or his camp had anticipated after a shaky start when they trailed by five points and hadn’t posted a score after eight minutes.

“Coming into the game, we always knew it was going to be nip and tuck and we didn’t expect to have the day like we had at the end of the game. We expected a very competitive game and the first couple of minutes showed it. Their full-forward line looked very potent and lethal. It took our full-back line a while to adjust but when they did they got on top.”

Gavin’s predecessor Pat Gilroy managed to quell the hype ahead of the 2011 All-Ireland final but then his side didn’t bulldoze their way through the province like the current crop.

The prospect of thrashing Meath will tantalise some supporters but Gavin insists his players won’t be getting ahead of themselves.

“It won’t be driven by me, the players will keep it down themselves and they’re well used to and accustomed to playing within that environment of expectation on Dublin teams. This year is no different.

“They’re well accustomed to focusing on the next game and we haven’t even looked at the Leinster final, we only chatted about it there a few moments ago.

“It wasn’t even on our radar, Kildare was for the last number of weeks and it will shift now to Meath and it has already. The players don’t need to be told what damage expectations can do if they get carried away.”

Gavin also said Alan Brogan is still working hard “in the background to get fit for football” and Philly McMahon is 100% fit despite not being among the subs yesterday.