Gavin warns his players to stay in the present

It’s been a bad week for defending champions and Jim Gavin has taken note.

Clare’s status as All-Ireland hurling kingpins was weakened in the Munster SHC defeat to Cork last Sunday while Spain’s long reign as soccer’s world superpower ended in defeat to Chile in the World Cup on Wednesday.

The Dublin manager referenced that 2-0 loss yesterday, the alacrity of their downfall in Brazil proving yet again that even the most effective and enthralling of winning teams are limited by a shelf life before inevitable decline.