Fáilte chuig gaa.ie - suíomh oifigiúil CLG

Football

football

Gavin: 'It's going to be a mammoth task'

Dublin and MAyo are set to battle it out again in the All-Ireland Football Final after they drew 2-09 to 0-15 the first day. Ahead of the replay, Dublin manager Jim Gavin talks to GAA.ie about the re-match on Saturday, October 1st in Croke Park (throw-in 5pm). #DUBvMAYO

By Paul Keane

Dublin manager Jim Gavin has insisted that the All-Ireland holders will stick to their tried and trusted formula of attacking football for Saturday's final replay with Mayo.

Gavin admitted his team was below par in the drawn game, but baulked at the notion that a change in tactics may be necessary for the second date at Croke Park.

"No, absolutely not," said Gavin, who will select his team this evening. "We played a few games of football. There's great competition for places. The players want to play.

"Our training is consistent, it's catching and kicking, backs and forwards. We train just to play football."

Gavin revealed that he has convened his team for four pitch sessions since the drawn game last Sunday week, keeping their skills sharp and their focus intact as they chase back to back titles.

A number of forwards including Eoghan O'Gara, Paul Mannion, and Paddy Andrews are pushing hard for starting starts with just six points registered from play during the 2-9 to 0-15 stalemate.

In turn, several players who started last time out are unsure of their place just 48 hours out from the eagerly awaited rematch.

"Players know themselves how they play," said Gavin. "They obviously get feedback from the coaching staff on areas to improve on, but I have to say, to their eternal credit, they just want to see what is best for the team.

"So whether a player is starting a game or finishing a game, or is part of the 30-man squad, everyone's nose is pointed in the same direction. They want to do the best for the team to get a team performance.

"There's a great trust there amongst the group and they all realise that whatever team is on the pitch representing their county is representing the group also. They'll all play their part, whether they're asked to finish or asked to start."

The 2013 and 2015 All-Ireland winning manager acknowledged that his team weren't at their best last Sunday week.

"There's a number of contributory factors but at the end of it all, they just didn't perform and that's what they need to address the next day," said Gavin. "And if they don't, we're playing a great team and we won't get the result.

"They (Mayo) are playing good football so it's going to be a mammoth task. They're talking about winning, they're confident about winning. So that's a dangerous team to play against."