Gavin welcomes Kerry test

April 11, 2016

Dublin manager Jim Gavin.
©INPHO/Cathal Noonan.

Jim Gavin is looking forward to the first Allianz Football League final between Dublin and Kerry since 1987.

Both teams enjoyed comfortable semi-final victories yesterday to set up a mouth-watering decider at Croke Park on April 24.

"I haven't seen Kerry the last couple of matches, we've just been concentrating on ourselves, but we know the quality they have and experience and strength in depth. It's a great game for both teams to get at the back end of April," the Dublin manager told RTE.

Gavin was pleased with the performance against Donegal.

"Our thoughts going into this game were just trying to get a performance against a very good Donegal side," he said. "We played them two weeks ago and we know each other very well. We're just happy to get through that game," he said.

"Overall the spread of scores (Dublin had 11 different scorers) would have pleased me most in the team. Defensively it was a good team defence and the guys took their scores well.

"Donegal invite teams onto them and try to compress space and counter-attack but we're comfortable and confident that we have players who can strike from deep and the boys did well today.

"It's just about being the best that we can be. Sometimes that's good enough and sometimes it isn't. That's the way we've always approached it."

Gavin expects Diarmuid Connolly and Kevin McManamon to be available for the final, while he also confirmed that Paddy Andrews and Jonny Cooper were taken off as a precaution yesterday.

"Paddy just got a bang to his back. He'll be fine, and the same with Jonny Cooper. We just wanted to get time into players and those who came on did very well."


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