Senior footballers fully focused on Wicklow duel

Five-time All-Ireland SFC winner Mick Fitzsimons says Jim Gavin's panel do not dwell on the past or scroll through rolls of honour but instead concentrate fully on the next challenge as they prepare for this Sunday's Leinster SFC quarter-final against Wicklow in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise (4.0).

“If you’re not focused on the game, it’s not going to help so thinking of anything out of your control like three months down the line isn’t going to be useful.

“It’s not something we just roll out to journalists just to fob off questions. Genuinely when you’re training you’re just looking to the next game and your form in that, that’s all you can really control, your form in that.

“If you start looking ahead into the distance or just looking into the past you can just take away from the performance a bit," says the Cuala man.

“It took a while for it to seep in but lads naturally enough do that now.”

DUBLIN v WICKLOW

They meet in the championship for the first time since 1990 when Dublin won a Leinster semi-final by eight points in Newbridge. They last met in the Allianz League in 1991 when Dublin won a quarter-final meeting by 2-10 to 0-11 in Croke Park.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS

1990: Dublin 2-14 Wicklow 0-12 (Leinster semi-final)

1989: Dublin 1-12 Wicklow 1-6 (Leinster semi-final)

1987: Dublin 2-18 Wicklow 0-6 (Leinster semi-final)

1981: Dublin 0-10 Wicklow 0-8 (Leinster quarter-final)

1979: Dublin 3-13 Wicklow 2-7 (Leinster semi-final)

Wicklow have never beaten Dublin in 30 Championship and League meetings. It’s 12-0 to Dublin in the championship and 18-0 in the League.

Jim Gavin is in his sixth season as Dublin manager, leading them to Leinster titles in 2013-2014-2015-2016-2017 and to the 2013-2015-2016-2017 All-Ireland titles. Dublin’s championship record under Gavin reads: Played 31; Won 28, Drew 2, Lost 1. The only defeat was against Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final.

Their last defeat in the Leinster championship was against Meath in the 2010 semi-final when they lost by 5-9 to 0-13.

John Evans is in his first season as Wicklow boss, having previously managed Tipperary and Roscommon.

There were 30 places between Dublin and Wicklow in this year’s Allianz League. Dublin finished second in the Division 1 table (they beat Galway in the final). Wicklow finished bottom of Division 4.

Dublin are having their first championship game of the season while Wicklow have a win behind them, beating Offaly in the Leinster first round (1-20 to 1-15 after extra-time).

Dublin have not lost a Leinster quarter-final since going down to Westmeath in 2004. The winners will play Meath or Longford in the Leinster semi-final on June 10.

LEINSTER S.F.C. – Quarter Final

Dublin v Wicklow – O’Moore Park, Portlaoise – Sunday 27th May @ 4pm

Pricing:

Stand – €20
Terrace – €15

Family Tickets:

Family Tickets are available for Stand and Terrace

Stand:- Adults €20 - Juveniles €5

Terrace:- Adults €15 - Juveniles €5

Senior Citizens/Students:

Purchase full price tickets and on the day of the match they can claim a rebate of €5 when they produce appropriate I.D. at Stile No: 1 (Stand) and Stile No: 20 (Terrace) PRIOR TO ENTRY INTO THE STADIUM.

Wheelchair Tickets:

Wheelchair + Assistant ticket - €20

Tickets are available from www.dublingaa.ie/tickets Selected Centra & Supervalu Stores and the GAA Ticket Office on Dorset Street.

Parnell Pass:

Parnell Pass Holders can purchase their tickets from the GAA Ticket Office on Dorset Street from 10am on Tuesday 22nd May until Friday 25th May. Ticket Office opening hours 10am - 5pm. Late opening Tuesday 22nd May until 7pm.