JIM GAVIN’S NUMBER one problem this week is finding a goalkeeper.
All-Ireland winning captain Stephen Cluxton was sent off against Mayo and is suspended for Dublin’s final league game against Tyrone.
Saturday’s dramatic draw means that the Dubs need to win in Omagh to guarantee their place in the semi-finals and keep their league title defence alive.
Sean Currie is the man most likely to step in for Cluxton and Gavin gave the Ballymun Kickhams keeper a vote of confidence despite an erratic performance when he came off the bench.
“I thought Sean did well,” Gavin said afterwards. “There were one or two areas to improve but I think all the players would say that. That was his first start.
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He added: “Sean had a great season last year with Ballymun and played very well this year as well.
It was good for him to come in and I thought he played very well. You can take positives from that side of it.
If Gavin decides against Currie, St Vincent’s All-Ireland club winning goalkeeper Michael Savage and Shane Supple are the most obvious alternatives with senior experience while St Anne’s youngster Lorcan Molloy should also be available if needed after Wednesday’s Leinster U21 final.
Supple: played in the league against Kildare last season. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Overall Gavin declared himself “very satisfied” after Eoghan O’Gara’s late double salvaged a 3-14 to 2-17 draw against a Mayo side that featured 12 of the team that started last year’s All-Ireland final.
“Both teams were going for the win. For me, we’re trying to get some consistency and create opportunities in games and take them.
“To be down to 14 men for the large portion of the game and still create those opportunities, from a coaching perspective it’s very very satisfying.
This Dublin team is a remarkable group of men and it’s a privilege for myself and the management team to work with them.They’ve got great character, they display it to us all the time, great commitment and resolve never to quit. That esprit de corps that was in them last year certainly hasn’t gone away.
Dublin are currently on seven points alongside Mayo, and Gavin admitted that he has already drawn up a Plan B in case they don’t make the semi-finals.
“If you get two extra games it’s a bonus. The games we played so far, they’ve been quality games, and to have another game, going up to Omagh to a great provincial ground, great team, great management, it’s a great test for the Dublin squad now to refocus and get themselves right for next weekend.
“If we’ve two more games, fantastic. We’ll be guaranteed one anyway if we get through and if we’re not, we’ve a plan in place.
“Either way the guys will have competitive games with 10 weeks to go to Championship.”
Dublin's number one problem - who will replace Stephen Cluxton this weekend?
JIM GAVIN’S NUMBER one problem this week is finding a goalkeeper.
All-Ireland winning captain Stephen Cluxton was sent off against Mayo and is suspended for Dublin’s final league game against Tyrone.
Saturday’s dramatic draw means that the Dubs need to win in Omagh to guarantee their place in the semi-finals and keep their league title defence alive.
Sean Currie is the man most likely to step in for Cluxton and Gavin gave the Ballymun Kickhams keeper a vote of confidence despite an erratic performance when he came off the bench.
“I thought Sean did well,” Gavin said afterwards. “There were one or two areas to improve but I think all the players would say that. That was his first start.
He added: “Sean had a great season last year with Ballymun and played very well this year as well.
If Gavin decides against Currie, St Vincent’s All-Ireland club winning goalkeeper Michael Savage and Shane Supple are the most obvious alternatives with senior experience while St Anne’s youngster Lorcan Molloy should also be available if needed after Wednesday’s Leinster U21 final.
Overall Gavin declared himself “very satisfied” after Eoghan O’Gara’s late double salvaged a 3-14 to 2-17 draw against a Mayo side that featured 12 of the team that started last year’s All-Ireland final.
“Both teams were going for the win. For me, we’re trying to get some consistency and create opportunities in games and take them.
“To be down to 14 men for the large portion of the game and still create those opportunities, from a coaching perspective it’s very very satisfying.
Dublin are currently on seven points alongside Mayo, and Gavin admitted that he has already drawn up a Plan B in case they don’t make the semi-finals.
“If you get two extra games it’s a bonus. The games we played so far, they’ve been quality games, and to have another game, going up to Omagh to a great provincial ground, great team, great management, it’s a great test for the Dublin squad now to refocus and get themselves right for next weekend.
“If we’ve two more games, fantastic. We’ll be guaranteed one anyway if we get through and if we’re not, we’ve a plan in place.
“Either way the guys will have competitive games with 10 weeks to go to Championship.”
5 talking points from Dublin and Mayo’s draw last night in Croke Park
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Capital Punishment GAA GAA 2014 Jim Gavin Michael Savage Sean Currie Shane Supple Stephen Cluxton Dublin