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Dublin's Ciaran Kilkenny misses a late free against Longford. INPHO/Donall Farmer.
shock defeat

Dubs seek to bounce back from U21 disappointment

Senior boss Jim Gavin has admitted that he was not expecting Wednesday night’s reversal against Longford.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S EVENTS in Parnell Park prompted wild celebrations amongst the Longford football fraternity.

The 7/1 outsiders knocked a star-studded Dublin team out of the Leinster U21 championship at the quarter-final stage.

Plenty in the GAA world were surprised by the result and those in the Dublin senior camp were no different.

Having full and unrestricted access to his U21 talents from early March was not part of manager Jim Gavin’s plotting for the 2013 campaign.

“I wasn’t planning for Wednesday to happen,” admits the Dublin senior boss.

“It (U21) is very hard to predict. I was involved with it for six years. Yeah, we got three All-Ireland titles out of it but two of those years we were knocked out in the first round.

“It’s a competition that’s a double edged sword being a pure championship competition.  Longford had their homework done and played well, but it’s disappointing for Dublin football.”

“Certainly we have to review it now. We will try to introduce some of the players in the remaining league matches. I would have preferred to see them playing championship with the Dublin U21’s, see the benefits of a Dublin getting a good run in it.

“The longer you go in the competition, can only benefit that guy’s exponential learning.  So, it’s a disappointment that they’re not still in the competition.”

Dublin’s Cian O’Sullivan.
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer

The U21 defeat will be absorbed and field in the folder of learning experiences. Dublin senior defender Cian O’Sullivan can relate to that.

Four years ago he was part of a Dublin team that fell short in the All-Ireland semi-final by a point against Cork

“We lost to Cork in a game we felt we could have won. It’s a very disappointing feeling at that age and it will stick with those players.

“But you need those defeats to enjoy the victories. That U21 team would have had high aspirations for themselves and it’s disappointing for them.

“I was very surprised. When you looked at that U21 team on paper, it was fantastic. I had heard that the Longford team were very strong and know they won Leinster at minor level.

“I would have expected the Dublin lads to do well but that happens at U21 level. You need to win your first couple of games, with college competitions going on, it’s very hard to get all the lads together at the one time.”

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