Dubs boss Gavin defends duration of Cluxton’s free taking routine

Jim Gavin has hit back at criticism of the time it takes Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton to get through his free-taking routine.

Sunday Game analyst Kevin McStay pointed out that it took Cluxton seven minutes and 54 seconds to take seven placed balls, a mixture of frees and 45s, in the Leinster final.

Averaged out, it amounted to over a minute per kick and, at one point, referee Eddie Kinsella visibly implored Cluxton to get up the field quickly. It remains to be seen if Cluxton will come under pressure to speed up his routine following McStay’s intervention, though Gavin maintained yesterday that the criticism was news to him.