How does Jim Gavin sleep at night?
Perhaps it’s a better question to ask how any of the players in the Dublin squad manage to get any rest considering the incredible competition for places in the Leinster champions squad at the moment.
The Dubs blooded a number of new players in the Allianz football league with results almost staying at a constant as they swept to a third league title-in-a-row
It seems that the faces change but the dominant performance levels from those wearing 1-15 stay the same. Wing back James McCarthy admits that the squad is in fine shape ahead of their Leinster opener at the end of May,
‘The new guys that have come in have really put their hand up such as Bryan Fenton and John Small and they are really pushing on like Jack McCafferty and Ciaran Kilkenny from a few years ago.’
‘It’s great for the team and its great for the dynamic with new guys coming in to keep everyone on their toes and it was a good league for us that way.’
‘You’d be very relived to get your name in the team. It will be fairly helter-skelter over the next few weeks and it’s a great time to be training and hopefully my name will be in the ring.’
The Dublin manager has previously expressed his firm conviction of only picking players based on by all accounts savage A v B games in training.
Speaking at Croke Park on Tuesday as part of the Cúl Heroes trading card launch,of which he is a brand ambassador the Ballymun Kickham’s man admits that marking some of the best forwards in the country is a good indication if a player is ready for championship,
They’re definitely tough games but they are training matches-they are great preparation for games. You’re taking on the Paul Flynn’s and Diarmuid Connolly’s and you know that if you’re going well on these type of guys then generally you’ll do well on most guys in the country.’
McCarthy’s performances for Dublin since his debut have marked him out among the finest defenders with ball in hand in a generation. The former Young Player of the year nominee is quick to breaking ball and his direct style has been a feature of Dublin’s attacking ethos since Gavin’s appointment.
How does he feel the GAA world would react if Joe Brolly’s controversial proposal to make midfield a no-go area for anyone except the centre-fielders was actually introduced,
‘I saw a bit on Twitter and Facebook. It’s worth something to have a look at. It could be difficult. I don’t think(Gaelic Football) needs too much of a change. Maybe one or two things but they have the committee set up now and it’s up to them to see if it would work or not and they’ll come up with something to change the game.’
A change that very much is coming into GAA next season will be blood testing for all GAA players by the Irish Sports Council. Last Sunday saw news break of a Monaghan footballer who allegedly tested positive for a steroid. Niall Moyna of DCU has been reported as demanding a lifetime ban for anyone found guilty of doping. McCarthy feels that sanction may be somewhat harsh,
‘It’s a pretty tricky situation to be in to say to give a guy a lifetime ban. I don’t think it is a problem in GAA and I don’t think there is guys involving in doping.. I’m just glad I’m not the one making the decisions.
‘I haven’t been tested myself but as a team we’ve seen them a lot. They randomly pick two-or three lads. You do have to be careful. We run all our stuff by our doctor and it’s very easy to fail. Even a nasal spray could see you fail.’
‘Testing doesn’t impact on your life too much. OK,maybe after games waiting to do a urine sample might not be ideal but I don’t think players mind too much overall.’
McCarthy has been an almost ever present since his breakthrough in the All-Ireland winning campaign of 2011. The challenges laid down to him being involved in the Dublin set up he admits may not be surmountable for every player. Only 15 men can start any game and McCarthy knows that for some squad players it can be frustrating not seeing action,
‘If you really want to do it and go after it then you’ll put the work in. It’s upto every individual what they do.’
‘It probably can’t become any more demanding than it already is. Saying that I love training this time of year but when you get to now, after the months of the slog, it’s great before the start of the summer and you really look forward to it.’
McCarthy is almost certain to start the Leinster q-final agsint either Offaly or Longford but he warns that the public perception of Dublin in cruise control until August is wide of the mark,
‘No,I don’t think you can really. You’re trying to get in the team and there’s a lot of pressure and you can’t afford really to be coasting along when you get on the pitch. If you then start thinking of August or whatever you could easily get caught out. We always approach it a game at a time and after that maybe the All-Ireland.’
