Gavin insists Dubs will continue to take risks
“We’re a risk-based team, we take a lot of risks in our game, it exposes us in some areas and we were exposed badly against Donegal a couple of years ago,” Gavin acknowledged.
“But, as the leader of the team, I’m prepared to accept that, with that expressive style, comes vulnerability sometimes.
“We understand we’re vulnerable when we play that particular game but that’s the way we want to play.”
Speaking at the annual conference of the Federation of Irish Sports in Croke Park yesterday Gavin said: “There are counties out there that have a defensive model. It’s easy to defend, it’s easy to destroy.”
He said Dublin must continue to innovate to stay ahead of the chasing pack and he revealed an unusual source for some of his coach methods.
“In the aviation industry I’m lucky enough to work with NASA in some areas and they have a very simple debriefing mechanism which I would use with the team which is: What did we do well? What new things did we learn and what did we already know that we need to re-emphasise?
Meanwhile, corner-forward Evan Regan is the only debutant on the Mayo team to play London in Sunday’s Connacht SFC quarter-final in Ruislip (3pm).
Elsewhere, Cork hurler Daniel Kearney yesterday moved to deny rumours that he had opted off the county panel. Midfielder Kearney, substituted in the first half on Sunday’s loss to Tipperary, had been the subject of speculation, but he tweeted: “Just to clarify, I have not left the Cork hurling panel, and the recent rumours that would say otherwise are totally false and have no basis.”
R Hennelly (Breaffy); B Harrison (Aghamore), K Keane (Westport), K Higgins (Ballyhaunis); L Keegan (Westport), C Boyle (Davitts), P Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels); T Parsons (Charlestown), J Gibbons (Ballintubber); K McLoughlin (Knockmore), A O’Shea (Breaffy), J Doherty (Burrishoole); E Regan (Ballina Stephenites), C O’Connor (Ballintubber), C O’Shea (Breaffy).
D Whitty (Gaultier); M Cummins (Brickey Rangers), R Cahill (Rathgormack), S Dalton (De La Salle); L Mulligan (Rathgormack), C Walsh (Rathgormack), C O’Neill (Brickey Rangers); S Keating (Ardmore), J Hurney (Ballinacourty)
Gavin Crotty (Dungarvan) JJ Hutchinson (Gaultier) Lorcán Ó Corraoin (An Rinn
ARMAGH (SF v Cavan); P Morrison (Armagh Harps); J Morgan (Crossmaglen Rangers), C Vernon (Armagh Harps), M Shields (Whitecross); A Mallon (Parnells, Dublin), A Forker (Maghery), C McKeever (St Oliver’s); B Donaghy (Clonmore), E Rafferty (Grange); R Grugan (Ballymacnab), T Kernan (Crossmaglen Rangers), C O’Hanlon (Killeavy); C Watters (Cullaville), S Campbell (Clan na Gael), G McParland (Ballymacnab). )
