DUBLIN’S ONLY CHAMPIONSHIP defeat under Jim Gavin came to Donegal in 2014 and it was a seminal moment in the evolution of the Metropolitans.
Prior to that shock loss, Gavin had taken a more purist approach to the game.
“We play the game with certain values in the squad and we play the game the way we believe it should be played,” he said after the 2013 final.
But Jim McGuinness taught Gavin a lesson the following year, when his deep-lying defence drew Dublin into their web and hit them with devastating effect on the break.
“I accept full responsibility for the philosophy and for the way Dublin play their football, for the attacking style we play and sometimes for the vulnerability that it brings and the unpredictability of it,” he stated shortly after the 3-14 to 0-17 reversal.
Gavin spent the winter mulling over the game. He tweaked his system from 2015 and re-calibrated their approach from an all-out attacking gameplan to one with more defensive responsibility.
“After Donegal beat us in 2014, Jim became obsessed about playing against teams with this style of play,” Alan Brogan stated earlier this year.
Is it fair to say that game was the one he learned from most as Dublin boss?
“I think what’s fair to say is that there’s always learning to be got from each game we play,” Gavin says. “That has always been the philosophy within the team, there’s always been that learning culture to see what we can get from each game, whether we win, lose or draw.
“And 2014 was no different. On that day my recollection of it is that we were beaten by a better team on the day, and in 2014 Kerry won the All-Ireland. So that’s learning for us. You’re always trying to build on that in every game.
“You could look back to how we’ve changed our game from last year’s All-Ireland series and how we had to keep evolving our game-plan. We know that we’re on the right track, but we know that if we remain stagnant in our game plan that teams will simply roll over us. We have to keep marching forward and learn as much as we can from those games.”
What changed since Donegal? Dublin now keep at least two men occupying the half-back line when they attack to avoid leaving the oceans of space exploited by Ryan McHugh and Anthony Thompson three years ago.
Most teams that face Dublin will bring back a sweeper, meaning Cian O’Sullivan can drop off from centre-back in front of his full-back line, cutting out an early kick-pass into the full-forwards.
Up front, Dublin’s wing-f0rwards and corner-forwards hug the touchline and try to keep the ‘D’ free for runners from deep. Their forwards are constantly on the move, turning and unsettling their opponents. They patiently play the ball across the field, probing for a hole to exploit. More often than not, they find a gap.
Arguably for the first time in three years, Gavin will face a side with a similar approach and conviction to McGuinness’s men.
“You just need to look at their scoring in the Ulster championship to see how good they are at that counter-attacking style,” he continues.
“They have a very, very impressive defensive system. It is very, very difficult to break down. They’re very skillful at it, very skillful defenders.
“They seem to have got the balance right so it’s going to be a tough game for us.”
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