We had too many unforced errors: Jim Gavin

Dublin manager Jim Gavin says that too many unforced errors cost Dublin in Sunday’s NFL Division 1 final loss to Kerry.

The Kingdom dominated at the start of the second half and an unbroken sequence of six points left Dublin chasing the game late on, they fell short by one point with Dean Rock hitting an upright with a 46-metre free with the last kick of the match deep in injury-time.

"Disappointed with that performance. Too many unforced errors. Gave the ball away too much - certainly had enough of it. The third quarter of the game, we kicked an awful lot of the ball away," says Jim.

"But all credit to Kerry. Their score execution was very good there today. They got some great points and fully deserved the win, so hats off to them."

The Dublin boss reckons that Dublin were careless in possession and were punished clinically by Kerry.

"Just turned it over needlessly. Kicked it away, handpassed it away – very uncharacteristic. But it certainly punished us, and put us in a very tough position going down the stretch, five points down.

"I thought they showed great heart again, great resilience to come back and be within the width of a post to put the game into extra-time, a long-range free from Dean (Rock). And we had a bit of momentum at that stage, but unfortunately this time a little bit too late.

"When a lack of a performance happens like that there today, it's ultimately my responsibility.

"But the preparations went very well this week, great energy, great focus by the players. We knew, as they always are, Kerry/Dublin games are very demanding and there was a national final, a cup on the table to be won. So we knew it was going to be a very tense game, which it turned out to be.

"So no, you couldn't fault the preparations. Team selection? Absolutely, that's my responsibility and we'd have to have a look at that – did we start the right players and bring the right players in?

"But I thought the boys who finished the game had great heart and desire, and again I couldn't question their resilience again there today – just a little bit too late."