"I just get the impression that the culture is not as it was" - Doyle on Dubs

August 05, 2021

Dublin's Brian Howard with Jimmy Hyland of Kildare ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson

Former Kildare star Johnny Doyle feels “the culture is not as it was” inside the Dublin camp

The Dubs captured an 11th Leinster SFC title in-a-row last Sunday after defeating Kildare on a 0-20 to 1-9 score-line.

However, many feel that the All-Ireland champions have yet to kick into gear in this summer’s championship with another semi-final battle against Mayo to come next Saturday week.

Speaking on Off The Ball, Doyle said that in losing their manager, Dublin have lost the culture that saw them dominant the last decade but doesn’t think it makes them any easier to play against.

“We are judging Dublin like we have never judged another team,” said the 2010 All-Star. “They have such high standards; at times over the last 10 years, they were like a machine.

“They never went off script at all, and that probably came down to Jim Gavin too and the way he dealt with players.

“I don’t think Jim Gavin would come out after a Leinster final and say ‘I don’t know what the story is with one of my players’.

“That would have alarm bells ringing. Now maybe Dessie [Farrell] knows exactly where Cluxton is, I don’t know.

“But from the outside looking in, you see Dean Rock going off, rightly or wrongly, he didn’t look happy and eh expressed that in his body language.

“Would that happen under Jim Gavin? I get the impression that it wouldn’t. I just get the impression that the culture is not as it was.

“You just feel that there is something just not quite right.”


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