We need to learn from it: Jim Gavin

Jim Gavin paid tribute to the "mental reserve" of his players following Sunday's drawn All-Ireland SFC final against Kerry in Croke Park.

Despite trailing by a point and playing with 14 men for over 40 minutes following the dismissal of Jonny Cooper the Dubs dug out a draw and looked the more likely winner in the final moments.

The Dublin boss though knows there is room for improvement and plenty to work on over the coming days in the lead up to the replay on Saturday, September 14 (6.0).

"Over the full expanse of the game it just wasn’t good enough,” said Jim.

“We played well in patches of the first half. We went five points up and they got a point relating from that sending-off, pushed ahead and we went five up in the second.

“The guys, we know them well and they are mentally very strong, great mental reserve there - a resilient football team.
“A point down with 72 minutes on the clock, the perception might have been that the game has gone away from them.

“From our perspective, every day we go out it’s about performing to the best of your ability.

“It wasn’t good enough today, simple as that.

“No excuses for it, we just need to go away and try to learn from it and come back the next day and perform to our best and represent Dublin.

“That’s the way we have always looked at it.”

Dublin's grip on the Sam Maguire looked to be slipping as the finishing line approached but Dean Rock's equalising ensured a second 'bite of the cherry'.

“Just disappointed with our performance, that’s the overriding thought.

“As I said, the resilience the Dublin players showed to be on the ropes as such and to still to keep moving and keep creating scoring chances, keep turning the ball over, that’s obviously the impressive piece.

“But overall in the expanse of the game, just not good enough from the standards the players set for themselves, not what I set for them.

“I know when they reflect they’ll have a lot to say and all we’ve done by getting a draw is give ourselves an opportunity to come out again here in 13 days.

“And hopefully get a better performance. And if we can do that, hopefully we’ll be there or thereabouts at the end of the game.”