Dublin manager Jim Gavin talks to RTÉ Sport ahead of this evening's All-Ireland final replay against Mayo.
Marty Morrissey: Describe the atmosphere after the drawn game?
Jim Gavin: We were just relieved to get another opportunity. We got lucky the last day, we were on the ropes for a lot of the game and there was great character shown by the Dublin boys to stay in the game and to just keep chipping away. I think overall the sense is that it’s another opportunity to play a great Mayo team.
MM: In terms of the game plan, will it be somewhat different?
JG: Not particularly. We just need to execute our game plan and we didn’t the last day, for a number of reasons, be that our pass selection, our execution, our shots as well weren’t on target as we’d normally expect them [to be]. They are the standards that the players set themselves and we’re going to have to meet those standards on Saturday evening. If we don’t, Mayo will give us a lot of trouble.
MM: Were you surprised with the Mayo challenge or was it exactly the way you thought it would happen? Were you surprised with so many of your star players not actually performing?
JG: I think what Mayo brought to the game was quite predictable. We’ve had some fantastic duels with Mayo over the last number of years. Even in Castlebar this year, in the National Football League, it was a great physical encounter, a great entertaining game. Any of the games we’ve played the last few seasons have been really entertaining and this weekend is going to be the same.
MM: How difficult was the rain and the slippery conditions at Croke Park?
JG: It’s very difficult when it gets a light fall of rain there. But it’s the same for both teams. Both teams just want to go out and play football and be their best and it is what it is. We just get on with it.
MM: Is it a factor?
JG: Certainly when it rains it’s a factor in Croke Park. It’s the same for both teams and certainly we wouldn’t look to use that as an excuse for under-performance.
MM: What have you been emphasising since the draw? Has anything changed for you?
JG: We’ve just used the same process as we have for all of our games. We’ve a particular rhythm that we use and the players hit that reset button quite quickly after the game and we moved onto the next game, which happens to be another All-Ireland final. To play two All-Ireland finals in one year is a great opportunity and the players are really looking forward to going out there and representing Dublin as best they can, their families and their clubs and hopefully if we can get that performance, get a bit of luck again, hopefully we’ll be there at the end.
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Watch live coverage of Dublin v Mayo on The Saturday Game on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player from 1600 and follow our live blog on RTE.ie. Live radio coverage on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 and highlights on The Saturday Game on RTÉ2 from 2200.
