Competition is massive in Dublin squad: Cooper

Jonny Cooper’s battle to win back a starting slot in the Dublin team following injury highlights the intense competition in Jim Gavin’s squad.

The Na Fianna defender was one of the Dubs most impressive performers in league and championship this season until suffering injury in the lead-up to the Leinster SFC final against Meath.

Cuala’s Mick Fitzsimons got the jersey against the Royal County and put in a superb display on dangerman Stephen Bray.

“The reality is he has the jersey now and deservedly so,” says Jonny ahead of this Saturday night’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Monaghan in Croke Park (6.0), “and it’s up to me and the other full-back line contenders to try and get one.”

“It’s dog-eat-dog in there and I think that although we are all feeding into the one channel of a collective Dublin performance, we are all trying to get a starting 15 jersey.

“The hunger is massive because the competition is massive ... the next guy could step up just as well, or maybe better than you can in some cases,” adds Jonny.