Johnny Cooper has certainly made his mark for Dublin this Summer, a regular presence in the Metropolitans defence in 2013, the Na Fianna clubman will be hoping to add an All-Ireland Senior medal to the U21 one he picked up in 2010.

As they did in 2011 on the way to an All-Ireland decider, Dublin have taken the front door route this season to the final, but many of those involved in the Metropolitans victory two years ago are not involved this time around.

Much has been made of Dublin's youth this season, with players such as Paul Mannion, Jack McCaffrey and Ciarán Kilkenny mentioned in this bracket, and although Cooper is a couple of years their Senior, should he once again start this weekend, it will only be his seventh Senior Championship appearance and his sixth this Summer.

Cooper says there may be some different personnel around from that All-Ireland win over Kerry, but that the mantra, skill levels and spirit in the squad isn't any different.

"From a couple of years ago there's definitely a new batch of players. There's similar qualities, just probably a different batch of players going on," he told hoganstand.com.

"The guys have grabbed their chance with two hands, the younger lads especially, and I suppose it's up to the guys who have been coming off the bench to prove themselves in training since and try and get that jersey. Jim is always preaching that it is about the competition, the healthy competition that there is in the squad, which is very good to see and it keeps everyone on their toes."

82,000 plus will pack out Croke Park this weekend, and Cooper is once again relishing his chance to line out in GAA Headquarters.

"I'm definitely looking forward to the final absolutely. It's another chance to get out onto Croke Park I suppose on the biggest stage that there is, to prove ourselves again. We'd be looking to drive it on again."

The 23-year old watched the 2012 semi-final loss to Mayo from in its entirety from the sideline, but has graduated well this year, and has played all bar 20 minutes of this Summer's campaign with the Dubs.

"I was looking on from the bench on the day and I suppose we just didn't perform to the level that we needed to perform at. It was certainly disappointing, but Mayo deserved their victory on the day. I suppose as I said, if you don't put in the performance that is needed, especially at that stage of an All-Ireland you are not going to get your due reward. I suppose the disappointment would have been the overriding factor, but in fairness to Mayo they deserved it."

While Cooper admits that defeat has driven on his side, he's keen to point towards the future rather than looking back too much on the past.

"I suppose in a way it has, but I mean the past is the past. There are a lot of players that didn't even play last year and weren't even on the squad last year who are now playing and are now in the squad. Things like that, yes they happen but they are in the past, and it's certainly not something we'd dwell on or a factor that would be pretty big."


Dublin's defence leaked one goal in their first four games of the Championship this year, but conceded three against Kerry last time around.

Cooper sees Mayo's forwards as some of the best in the business and knows another tough day at the office is on hand this weekend.

"Absolutely. They have a lot of forwards up there who have been prolific. The likes of (Cillian) O'Connor and those guys and please God he makes it to the final, because you want to test yourself against the very best that there is and they certainly have that, whether it is the guys who have been starting or the one or two they might have on the bench.

"In terms of the skill set they would be very similar to Kerry in terms of they would be skilful and two-footed, good free-takers and that sort of thing that can punish you, if the tackles aren't as crisp as they should be. Similar enough to Kerry in terms of their skill level and I suppose we'll play it as we see it."

Cooper and the Dublin defence have certainly done their homework on this Mayo attack, but he is also pretty familiar with the Mayo rear-guard, and in particular goalkeeper Rob Hennelly whom he has soldiered alongside in DCU, capturing Sigerson Cup honours in the process.

"I have a lot of respect for them guys and more so the guys who I have played with alongside at DCU - the Mayo lads," Cooper said.

"A lot of respect for them guys and what they have done. They deserve to be on this stage every bit as much as Dublin do. But once we cross the white line that's it. There's a healthy respect there and I've no doubt that we will chat away as we normally do, but when we cross the white line we have to do what has to be done."

DCU has brought a lot to Dublin football in recent years, not only through players from the county picking up Sigerson Cup medals and other accolades, but also through the provision of training facilities for the Dublin Senior team.

Cooper is very proud of the North Dublin University.

"DCU is definitely the leading one in terms of facilities and in terms of what you need. There's everything in DCU that you could ever need in terms of pitch, in terms of recovery, the gym. Really DCU has been leading the way in the last couple of years and I suppose it shows in the success that they have with the Sigerson titles and that sort of thing in the last couple of years. But very much so DCU has played a massive part in that."

The input of clubs is key to any county success and Na Fianna are where Cooper soldiers in this regard.

The Mobhi Road, Glasnevin outfit lost an All-Ireland SFC Club final to Crossmaglen Rangers in 1999, and Cooper is hopeful that success can come to the club again in the not too distant future.

"Na Fianna is everything for me. Na Fianna is where I started and where I will end. There are so many people that have helped me and really too many people to mention all the way along on the route to this day I suppose. Na Fianna is a special place in terms of that there is 2-3,000 members in the club, it's a massive community club.

"We have a young Senior side now trying to push on and try to have a bit of success on the club level. Please God that will come in the next couple of years."

At Minor level Cooper was unlucky not to take honours with his club, but titles have come Na Fianna's way in subsequent years.

"We have been to a couple of finals. Personally I have lost two or three Minor finals and then suddenly when I went they won two or three, so that's just the way it pans out. They have had very successful underage teams that have come through the club and most of those guys now are Senior and are at a level which they need to be at to challenge. Please God as I said that will come through in the next couple of years."

GPA Chief Executive Dessie Farrell was involved in the side which lost the All-Ireland Club decider, while former Dublin Senior Football manager Paul Caffrey is also a member of the club.

Cooper says it's brilliant to have the calibre of people like that involved with Na Fianna.

"You would have Paul Caffrey and Dessie Farrell and these guys who have been around. I suppose we have lent them to the county setup in many ways over the past couple of years, with Dessie with the Minors and that. Hopefully they'll get to come back into the club now and maybe give that bit more to the club, or maybe give that little bit extra to the club that they have given to the county over the last couple of years."

A last 16 encounter in the Dublin SFC against St Vincent's is next up for Na Fianna, but All-Ireland glory is the only thing on Cooper's mind this weekend. Tweet

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