Dessie Farrell said a springtime of playing Division 2 football has cost Dublin crucial sharpness after their All-Ireland SFC Group 3 draw with Roscommon at Croke Park on Sunday.
The Dubs were sluggish for large chunks of the encounter, trailing by four points with half an hour to play.
They did rally, and led by two heading for stoppage time, before late scores from Conor Cox and Donie Smith earned the Rossies a point in Group 3.
When asked why he felt his team had looked so out of sorts, particularly in the first half, Farrell told RTÉ Sport: "I think it's from playing in Division 2 to be honest. No disrespect to the teams because there's some very good teams in that division, but you're not getting that consistency of challege week in week out that this phase of the competition is going to bring you.
"As I say, I'm happy to have encountered a challenge like that. We'll definitely take a lot from it.
"It was a really competitive game. I'm probably disappointed we didn't see it out at the end but I'd have taken a draw at half-time.
"We were very lacklustre in the first half, struggled to come to terms with the step up in intensity and class, playing against a team well organised with a very good system.
"We got to regroup at half-time and presented a different Dublin opposition in the second half. Maybe overall it was a fair result.
"I'm very happy with the challenge. It was the first Division 1 team we've played all season. It was always going to be a step up in quality. Roscomon have some really good players - well organised, well drilled, very good system.
"I think we'll learn a lot from that... that's the key to it at this stage, is to bring the lessons as you go forward."
Next up is a meeting with Kildare at Nowlan Park. The two counties have met twice already this year and Farrell is braced for a testing day at the office.
"We've had two very, very close encounters with Kildare," he added.
"They've had a two-week window now so they'll be well rested, recovered, they'll have their prep done.
"The six-day turnaround is defintely challenge for us - a lot of weary limbs, sore bodies, a couple of knocks and bumps and bruises that we need to assess as well.
"For us it'll be about recovery, resetting. There won't be an awful lot done this week. The priority for us is to be as fresh as we can coming into this huge, huge game."
