Gavin dwells on the positive

Twenty five years now since Dublin has left the southern capital with league points. Not that Jim Gavin seemed unduly bothered last night.

“We’ve got a squad of players and they need to be given game-time,” Gavin explained, regarding the balance between blooding players and needing an opening day victory.

“They need to experience what elite level football is about — and there’s no better place than to put them in than against Cork, a quality side, and it’s a learning process for them. To experience that intensity — pre-season tournaments can’t replicate that — and you can’t wait until the championship, so it’s about giving guys a chance.”