Jim Gavin: When game was there to be won we really stepped up

Jim Gavin heaped praise on his players following last Sunday's NFL1 final victory over Galway in Croke Park.

Despite being down to 14 men for the last 20 minutes following the dismissal of Niall Scully the Dubs came up with the answers in an all-action last quarter.

"What they achieved last year was remarkable. The easy thing to do was to kick back, which they did. We didn't see them until we had a two-week lead-up into the league. Maybe four big sessions (were) done," said Jim.

"For them to go away and be so diligent with themselves ... just to come back with the right frame of mind ... that's what the remarkable thing about them is, that they're always on-script.

"They demand so much from each other, and they do genuinely see representing Dublin as a privilege. I don't get any falsehood regarding that. It's a genuine love of the jersey.

"That's what makes Gaelic games. We always say it's a volunteer, community-based sport, and that's the way the guys see it.

"You could see the passion there in the Galway players as well. They gave everything that they could.

"But I wouldn't get carried away. It's still April. Does it have any relevance to championship? Not really. A lot of water will pass under the bridge before we open our legs up in the first round of the championship.

"We played with great intent and we drove hard and went at them (Galway).

"There was a lot of unselfish work by the Dublin players, picking up Galway runners. A lot of breaking ball was won, really unselfish work and great hunger shown by the players.

"When the game was there to be won by either team, I really thought the Dublin guys stepped up.

"That is what I find remarkable about them - that they can do that on such a consistent level, especially because they have achieved so much in the past."