Dublin manager Dessie Farrell was disappointed with the manner of his side's "sloppy" defeat to Mayo but is confident they can improve throughout the Allianz Football League campaign as some of the older guard return.
The Dubs built leads in both halves in Castlebar but were level at the break, 0-08 apiece, and conceded an opportunistic goal in the 52nd minute when Stephen Coen fisted to the net after Jordan Flynn’s effort for a point had dropped short.
Dublin inched back in front just after the hour but failed to score again and Fergal Boland grabbed a late winner for the hosts after he was picked out from a quick free by Ryan O'Donoghue.
"Disappointed that we didn't get something out of the game," Farrell told RTÉ Sport. "I thought we played very well for long spells and controlled the game for large parts.
"The goal was a sucker punch, sloppy on our behalf. Then we probably had a couple of chances to kill it off towards the end and we didn’t take them.
"All told, disappointing to come this far and go home empty-handed but it’s always a tough place to come. Great atmosphere and a competitive game.
"Maybe not the free-flowing game that we would have expected but definitely aspects of our game we are happy with. Some of the new lads coming in, Theo Clancy made his debut today and I thought did very well, another rookie Greg McEnaney played very well."
The All-Ireland champions are now 0/2, having also lost their opening Division 1 clash to Monaghan, but Farrell feels they are still catching up on their rivals, following a team holiday in late November.
"We still have bodies to come back," he said. "We knew that we were coming into it behind the curve a little. A lot of the teams, from what we understand, have been back a long time and have a lot of work done.
"You can see that in the conditioning of both oppositions that we played. They have a lot done on their game plan and tactically as well.
"It's a long season. The league is going to be very tough for us now but that’s all part of it. We’ve been in this position before.
"At the same we’re getting to blood some new players, trying out one or two things ourselves. There is plenty of room for growth in our game and hopefully we’re able to turn a corner in the next couple of weeks.
"Obviously, it’s all a platform for what’s to come in the summer."
Stephen Cluxton, Michael Fitzsimons, Paul Mannion and Brian Howard have yet to make an appearance this year but Farrell is optimistic they will all see action during the league.
"I'd hope so. There are fellas in different situations so you have to manage everyone slightly differently.
"Some of the senior lads have a lot of mileage, a lot of seasons under their belt, so they’re on a different programme maybe.
"But slowly but surely we’re getting them back and into shape, and hope to be competitive as we go through the league."
