Dublin boss Dessie Farrell lamented his side's lack of urgency in their comprehensive defeat to Tyrone at Healy Park.
Both sides went into their final league game with plenty to play for. Dublin had a decent chance to reach the Division 1 final, while Tyrone were in a relegation scrap to stay in the top flight.
As it turned out, Dublin’s efforts were no match for Tyrone’s hunger, with the home side running out handy winners – even if a late flurry of two-pointers massaged the numbers slightly for the Boys in Blue.
"We never brought the intensity or fight that was required," Farrell told RTÉ Sport after the loss.
"We knew what was at stake coming into this game. It was a big game for us, we knew they’d be very competitive.
"It was a big game for us, in terms of making it to a league final and another competitive game which would have been very welcome."
Dublin entered this league campaign carrying a much-changed squad and somewhat reeling from the retirements of James McCarthy, Michael Fitzsimons and – most surprisingly – Brian Fenton.
Added to that, it appears apparent that we won’t be seeing Jack McCaffrey or John Small in a Dublin jersey anytime soon. Farrell was forced to 'throw in the kids’ so to speak. To that end, the two-time All-Ireland-winning manager will be pleased with his side’s development over the last two months.
"Overall, when we take a step back and look at the league in its entirety, it was reasonably positive based on where we were initially with a lot of change in the squad and new lads getting blooded," Farrell said.
"Being one win away from a National League final, we would have taken that at the start. All in all, we're happy enough with how the league has gone."
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Veteran goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton was named to start for the second game in a row, but was replaced in the first 15 by Gavin Sheridan while Paddy Small was not in Healy Park despite being named as a substitute for the first time during this league campaign.
"Stephen picked up a knock during the week," Farrell explained. "Paddy Small is coming back after a long injury and we just thought today wasn’t the best day – with the trip up – for him to return. He stayed back at home to pay with his club"
On his feelings after a first major competition played under the new and evolving football rules, Farrell came across as a man in favour of the game’s new look.
"Overall, the rules are a worthwhile experiment," he said. "There was plenty of chopping and changing but that was always going to be part of it.
"There’s an opportunity now for them to bed in and I think we’ll all be able to get more comfortable with them over the coming weeks."
