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Jim Gavin: 'We are certainly fortunate to be there' James Crombie/INPHO
Riding Their Luck

Are Dublin fortunate to be in tomorrow's Division 1 league final? - Jim Gavin thinks so

Dublin are back in a league final but management and players aren’t entirely happy.

NO DUBLIN TEAM has ever put back-to-back National football league titles together.

But after last year’s exhilarating win over Tyrone, Dublin can grasp that opportunity tomorrow in Croke Park. They find themselves back in the decider with Derry in the opposition corner and a chance to keep their winning ways going.

Yet should they be in this position? It’s been an imperfect campaign by Dublin and their manager Jim Gavin thinks they are fortunate to be in this position.

They’ve lost to Cork and Derry, struggled to defeat Westmeath, needed a late Diarmuid Connolly point against Tyrone to propel them into the last four and then slumped ten points behind in their semi-final against Cork.

“We are certainly fortunate to be there,” says Gavin. “Some of our performances haven’t been up to the standards that the players have set for themselves. They and I know that. To get into a national league final we are in bonus territory for ourselves.”

The defeat to Derry on St Patrick’s weekend has clear relevance for tomorrow while Gavin has examined forensically where it went wrong for them early on against Cork.

“On the bus journey home (from Derry), we’d a long chat about how good they were and how impressive they were. It’s a matter as well of trying to be more efficient in front of goal. We’d a good few chances against Cork early on and we didn’t take them.

“We need to be more robust and that’s an area we need to work on from the last game. If we defend like we did against Cork the last day we will be punished with the talent that Derry have in the forward line.”

Jim Gavin: 'We need to be more robust' Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Defender Johnny Cooper sings from the same hymn sheet as his manager. He was one of the defenders under siege during that first-half horror show against Cork.

“I don’t think we’d be happy with the way we’re starting games. We’ve let other teams take a lead and take the advantage. We have our processes in place in terms of the way we warm up, the way we try to start a game.”

Still there are certain benefits to be gleaned from the type of wins that Dublin have been churning out. The narrow opening night win against Kerry, the late March draw with Mayo and that remarkable semi-final against Cork all featured stirring Dublin comebacks.

The successes are a testament to the strength of their squad and the mentality that enables them to bend a game to their will.

“I suppose within the team it shows there is that hunger and belief,” admits Cooper. “Okay you mightn’t come back from 10 points all the time but there’s certainly a strong will there for guys to keep pushing to the end.

“You do come out of the game saying it was a good team effort. You probably get a bit more out of it in terms of the team performance and the collective, being together and going forward in terms of the challenges you might face.”

Jonny Cooper Johnny Cooper talks about the 'character and belief' that exists in the Dublin team. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

For their manager, scrubbing away those inconsistencies remains the objective.

“We’re trying to learn and grow. If we remain static and stagnant, teams will catch up on us. If that means teams defeat us, we’ll take it on the chin and try to learn from it. Yes, there has been some very good passages of play but there have been a lot of inconsistencies and with six weeks to go to the championship we need to resolve those.”

Tomorrow is the next test to see will the real Dublin stand up.

Here’s how Derry and Donegal will line out for the weekend’s football league finals

Chance for Dublin on Sunday to reach their first Division 1 ladies football league final

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