We can’t stand still: Jonny Cooper

Jonny Cooper may be an integral member of one of Dublin’s most successful teams ever but he isn’t dwelling on his medal haul.

The Na Fianna man says that Dublin can’t “stand still” if they are to stay at the top.

“It's hard to take that in as a player because if you do you can get complacent and then you start to lose focus on the job in hand,” says Jonny.

“For me, the talk of all that sort of stuff externally is nice and it's flowery and it is what it is, but at the end of the day we are there to do our job.

“We mightn't get a shout off Jim next year or the year after, you don't know how long you have left, so from that point of view you just try to push on ourselves and if it brings success then well and good.

“If you want to stand still you'll very much find yourself with a subs jersey or no jersey on your back come game day. And that's the motivation.

“We're very intrinsically motivated as people in terms of competitiveness.

“I want to play and everyone else wants to play so what am I going to do to get the jersey ahead of everyone else?

“I think that's where the bit of motivation comes in for me, certainly in terms of wanting to play. If you're standing still you'll be left behind fairly quick in this team.”

* Pictured is Jonny Cooper at the launch of Dublin GAA's new O'Neill's playing kit at AIG Insurance's Head Offices in Dublin. Available to buy from today on www.oneills.com and in sports outlets across Dublin and nationwide (RRP €65).