Kieran Shannon: Dublin philosophy— as much as their football— was Jim Gavin’s greatest gift

When the Dublin footballers continuously speak about the ‘culture’ that Pat Gilroy changed and established and that Jim Gavin then perfected, they rarely go into detail while knowing the secret of winning and Gavin was in the detail.

For all the strides made under Pillar Caffrey, there was in retrospect still an undercurrent of entitlement. One newcomer in those years drove into his first night of training only to be admonished by a senior player for parking in ‘his’ spot. The same extended to the dressing room. An innocuous placing of a gear bag could often lead to further censure. That doesn’t belong there, kid. That’s my spot.