Second-half performance won’t be good enough: Jim Gavin

Dublin manager Jim Gavin knows that he has plenty of ‘food for thought’ ahead of their All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Tyrone at the end of the month.

The Red Hand County have sailed through all their games so far, the last instalment being their annihilation of Armagh in last Saturday’s quarter-final.

There has been nothing between the Dubs and Tyrone in league meetings in recent seasons and their last-four duel promises to be another close encounter.

"Certainly the game the next day won’t be a traditional 15-on-15, that’s for sure," says Jim.

"I thought that we played, in the first half (against Monaghan), very well.

“The team looked controlled and composed and went in deserved leaders at half-time

"So we need to be controlled in those phases and I thought we did that when it was required in the first half.

“No doubt that will be required from us in three weeks also if we are going to take this Tyrone team on,” adds the Dublin manager.

"Balance that by saying that second-half performance won't be good enough the next day. But I won't need to tell the players that, they'll now it themselves.

"Over the last number of seasons Dublin-Tyrone games have been nip and tuck and I don't expect anything different in three weeks’ time."

However, Jim feels that his side are building momentum as the summer progresses.

“There’s definitely a sense within the management team that we’re building momentum and the players are leading that charge. It’s the right time of the season to be doing it.

“Balance that by saying that second half performance won’t be good enough the next day. But I won’t need to tell the players that.”