We will have to up our game: Jim Gavin

Dublin manager Jim Gavin says his side will have to up their game significantly from their Mayo displays if they are to defy Kerry of back-to-back All-Irelands this Sunday in Croke Park (3.30).

“If you take the two games against Mayo as a whole, then that performance will not be good enough against Kerry," says Jim.

“I'll be looking for a consistency in performance over the full duration of the game on Sunday.

“Mayo did creep ahead in the replay and we had to dig deep which is a positive. The boys showed great spirit, resolve and character. That's what won the game for them in the end.

"We'll need that and more against Kerry. If we achieve that, then we should put ourselves in a good position to hopefully get a result.”

Jim highlighted the Kerry engine room as one of the many areas where the Kingdom are strong.

“Everybody knows how good Kerry are in midfield. We saw that at first hand ourselves in the league game back in March. They will look to capitalise on that again in the final. They are also good in defence – with the likes of Killian Young, Marc Ó Sé, Jonathan Lynne and Paul Murphy gelling well.

"And then you look at their attack. To score seven goals in one half against Kildare was a phenomenal achievement.

“They played outstanding football that day and that's how they can play if they are given space and time. We need to deny them that space and time.

"Since the 1950s, we’ve only beaten Kerry four times in championship.

“We don't have that great a tradition of beating them when you think about it. They are All-Ireland champions and the expectation is that they'll do the back-to-back.

"There is always great expectation in Dublin but the players are used to that and can deal with all the external distractions. We’ve had great support all year, right from the first league game against Cork at Páirc Uí Rinn.

"The players really noticed that in our last two games and I thought the support pushed us home the last day."