By Cian O'Connell

Dublin's constant regeneration

Maintaining standards and success can be demanding, but Jim Gavin's ability to unearth and introduce fresh talent ensures Dublin remain the team to beat.

From Sunday's starting XV nine were aged 25 or under blending nicely alongside Stephen Cluxton, Philly McMahon, Cian O'Sullivan, Jonny Cooper, James McCarthy, and Dean Rock.

How Gavin integrated Brian Howard and Eoin Murchan during the current campaign is the ultimate case in point.

Howard and Murchan's promise was well documented, but they established themselves in a particularly forceful Dublin outfit.

All Ireland Under 21 winners in 2017 Howard and Murchan produced on the field of play for the Dublin seniors, who adequately dealt with every challenge presented.

Gavin spoke about the beauty of watching emerging talent win with those who have helped Dublin to hoist the Sam Maguire Cup previously.

"That’s the special thing about it," Gavin admits. "Just coming from the dressing room – forgive me for being late, but I just wanted to spend some time with them. Those special moments.

"To see the joy. Just a fantastic atmosphere and energy in the room. The guys who have won a few, the guys playing their first All-Ireland final – it’s a special moment. That’s why we give our time, to see that."

One thing is for certain: Gavin and his backroom team have used the time wisely. The regeneration game continues. Who will be next to audition in the 2019 Allianz Football League?

What might have been for Tyrone

It started with tackles and turnovers with Tyrone primed for a battle.

Mickey Harte's charges thundered into the contest accumulating a 0-5 to 0-1 advantage, but Dublin responded with a flurry of scores.

Tyrone were left reflecting on a string of costly early misses when they were in the ascendancy.

“We were 0-5 to 0-1 up, and suddenly it was 2-6 to f0-5 points in a very short period of time. And that’s very disappointing, given the way we opened the game.

"I thought we were doing very well in the opening stages of the game, and to be trailing by seven points at half-time seemed a shame for the effort the boys put in in the first half of that half."

Considering the Ulster Championship loss to Monaghan, Tyrone responded impressively ultimately reaching Sunday's decider.

Harte has stitched a decent team together, but can they develop further?

"Have you got the capacity to make the next step, who knows?," Harte wondered.

“That’s the challenge, but sure look, every team will be wanting to do that, and it depends how you stay injury-free, how your players develop and grow from this experience, or are there some new players we can find that will add value to what we’re about.

“So all of these things are up in the air right now, but you have to believe, you have to be an optimist, otherwise there would be no point in doing this.”

Relentless and ruthless

Towards the end of Jim Gavin's post match briefing under the Hogan Stand talk switched to Stephen Cluxton's influence in the Dublin GAA story.

Making his 200th League and Championship appearance Cluxton's relevance to the Dublin cause is rarely underestimated.

While discussing Cluxton's considerable achievements and how the Dublin custodian leads by example, Gavin's words captured one of the reasons why the sky blue team remain perched on the summit.

Cluxton's drive and desire to play continues to impress Gavin. "It probably demonstrates his determination, the character of the man he is, and again he has volunteered so much of his time, committed so much of his life to Gaelic Games," Gavin remarked about Cluxton's passion for the Dublin jersey.

"He's in the vocation of teaching, he's an outstanding teacher in St David's in Artane, it's just the example he sets and his leadership, and for me leadership is all about the influence piece and the leadership he gives to other players, the standards that he demands from himself first and foremost. I mean he's the first to training and the last off the pitch."

"He's hungry, he's relentless, he's ruthless, and that's a great trait in any captain."

Those traits are evident throughout a gifted Dublin team, who paraded those qualities when difficult questions were being posed at Croke Park on Sunday.

Tyrone burst into a 0-5 to 0-1 advantage early on, but by the interval Dublin led by seven. The serious damage was done.

Peter Keane guides Kerry to further minor glory

A fifth All Ireland minor crown on the spin was gleaned by Kerry, who staged an impressive recovery mission against Galway.

Manager Peter Keane is one of the names being linked with the vacant senior role in the county and Sunday's comeback success was notable.

Galway played some splendid stuff in the first half to move seven points clear, but by the break the gap was down to four. That mini Kerry burst was decisive, especially when they seized the initiative in the third quarter.

Suddenly Galway couldn't funnel enough possession into their forwards and Kerry took charge.

It was a loose and exciting encounter with Keane especially satisfied to collect the Tom Markham Cup.

Previous Kerry teams had been sprinkled with Hogan Cup winners so this victory was pleasing for Keane.

"We weren't coming here like we had for the past few years when you had the strength of a Hogan Cup and they were backboning your team or whatever," Keane reflected. "This was pure new in every sense of the word." The cast may have been fresh, but the net result was the same with Kerry still the dominant force in the grade.