Battle for jersey starts all over again: Jonny Cooper

With the commencement of the 2016 season just around the corner Dublin eyes have turned to fresh challenges.

Jonny Cooper feels that Dublin footballers will have to tweak their system again if they are to prosper and says the battle for the jersey starts all over again.

“The 2015 template won’t be any use, because I’m sure people are looking at Dublin and Kerry and Mayo and looking at what we did this year,” says Jonny.

“Largely, there will be new concepts and new ideas that need to be implemented because being static won’t work.”

The Na Fianna defender also expects the battle for the Dublin jersey to be as hot as ever.

“There are a lot of lads knocking on doors there, trying to take jerseys back.

“And essentially, it all goes back into the pot anyway.

“The jerseys go back into the pot and you’re all competing with each other for them again.

“And that’s the way Jim (Gavin) has worked his system in the last few years.

“Be it Stephen (Cluxton) in goals or anyone else, nobody has a jersey with their name on it and I would be hopeful that the lads would be pushing on; those lads who didn’t get that much game-time this year.”

Dublin footballers have two games very early in the new year.

The annual Dublin Bus/Herald Dubs Stars games will be hosted by Kilmacud Crokes in Glenalbyn, Stillorgan on Saturday, January 2.

The hurling clash of Dublin v the Dubs Stars hurlers get the action underway at 12.30 and it followed by the football equivalent at 2.0.

Admission is €10, for accompanied children admission is free.

The following day, Sunday Januaray 3, the Dublin footballers begin their Bord na Mona O’Byrne Cup campaign against Wexford – the game has been moved to O’Kennedy Park, New Ross (2.0).