Gavin expecting a tough test for Dublin in Ballybofey

Sunday will not be their first meeting along the sideline. Jim McGuinness and Jim Gavin crossed managerial paths at the final of the under-21 championship in 2010.

It was a thrilling encounter, Dublin prevailing by two points after Donegal captain Michael Murphy cannoned the ball off the woodwork in the final throes. That ensured Rory O'Carroll, Murphy's man marker, was crowned hero of the hour.

It also prompted a memorable quote from Gavin. “They have ice in their veins,” he said of his players that day, a line that has become a warning to the rest of the country as Dublin won the All-Ireland Under-21 title again last year and a fresh wave of talent followed O’Carroll into the senior panel.

Donegal, under McGuinness, have also pushed on, to such an extent that Dublin’s rare sortie out of HQ up to Ballybofey presents the public with a sight of the two previous All-Ireland champions in battle.

"Jim's an excellent manager," said Gavin yesterday. "His results speak volumes for the work he has done with Donegal."

Donegal burden
The burden for Dublin last year, if not for Gavin in his first campaign as senior manager, is now being carried by Donegal as reigning All-Ireland champions.

“I think they’ve done quite well. They’ve been unlucky in games they didn’t get results in but been very competitive in all their games. This will be no different, they’ll be looking to get a result, no more than ourselves, to act as a launching pad for their big game against Tyrone in a couple of weeks time.”

It is the Donegal system that all teams struggled to contain last year so the evolvement of Gavin’s ideas since 2010 will undergo a stern probing.

It should be noted that many Donegal Under-21s were laid low that week three years ago by food poisoning.

A low-scoring game then, Jim?

“They are very structured and organised in defence. Jim and Rory (Gallagher) have been with them for a few years now so the players would be comfortable with the structure they have. They’ve got some top class forwards – McBrearty, McFadden, Murphy so they will all hurt us if given space to score,” added the Dublin boss.

Paul Flynn and Bernard Brogan are back training and from the returning Ballymun Kickhams contingent, Philly McMahon, Dean Rock and Jason Whelan are expected to get some exposure, over the next two weekends, but James McCarthy (ankle) and Karl Connolly (collarbone) are unavailable.

Alan Brogan and Eoghan O'Gara not ready to return from long-term injuries, while O'Carroll and Ciarán Kilkenny are aiming to recover in time for the league semi-final on Sunday week.

Settled team
All told, it makes the task of unearthing a settled team for the championship that little more difficult.

“This weekend marks the fourth month we’ve been with the squad so a lot of work has been done, with a lot more to do. There is eight weeks to championships so it is incremental progress but we haven’t had the full squad that we wanted until last weekend.”

With that in mind, and the semi-finals due for Croke Park, the 460-kilometre round trip to Donegal is seen as an important opportunity for squad dynamics.

“Travelling away to Ballybofey is a great opportunity to be with the players, you’ve got some contact time with them and sometimes it’s nice to travel. I’ve always enjoyed travelling away with Dublin football teams because you get more time with the players.”