If the weather was unusually chilly for April, the fact of Jim Gavin welcoming another – the fifth in his six years in charge – New Ireland trophy for the Allianz Football League was a far more familiar rite of spring. They’re an amazing group of Dublin footballers – to have determination, drive and ambition, particularly after their phenomenal achievements last year. “I think every year we’re conscious that there’s a group of players that play good football that are coming out of the underage system and are pushing hard. Dublin’s Brian Fenton and Ciarán Kilkenny celebrate with the Allianz Football League Division One trophy in Croke Park. That’s a lesson we’d be hoping to learn from them going forward into the championship.”Like Gavin, he now prepares for the senior football championship; unlike Gavin he has a serious match in a few weeks, against All-Ireland finalists Mayo.

Source: The Irish Times April 01, 2018 20:37 UTC