Manager commends O’Gara’s composure

Jim Gavin has commended the restraint of Eoghan O’Gara in the face of intense provocation in last month’s Leinster final.

The Dublin player was confronted by several Meath players after tackling Kevin Reilly in the second half of the victory.

“I just thought Eoghan showed great composure for a big strong man, to maintain his self-discipline when he was under stress.

“It’s not really talked about in the Dublin squad. We just moved on to the next game pretty quickly.”

Meath manager Mick O’Dowd alleged Mickey Burke was bitten by a Dublin player during the incident, but the player chose not to pursue the matter.

Gavin refused to criticise O’Dowd’s claim: “The manager has got to do whatever he feels best for his team. There was great respect going into that game, and the county of Meath and the way they play their football and the GAA community and there was great respect after the game for Meath football and for Meath GAA people.

“So that hasn’t changed one bit. What a manager does, that’s in his control and we can’t influence that. There’s a great respect and admiration for Meath. We like the way they play their football. I always enjoy watching them play football. That relationship is still as strong as ever.”

Meath veteran and former captain Seamus Kenny, 34, has announced his retirement from the inter-county game. Having made his debut in 2000, the Simonstown Gaels man won two provincial titles and was an All Star nominee in 2010.

Meanwhile, Gavin sympathised with former Dublin team-mate Paul Bealin who was ousted as Westmeath manager after just one season. “Westmeath have a great club structure and a proud county tradition and you wish them well and you wish Paul Bealin well. I felt he did a very good job with them and when we played them they were very competitive.”