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WATCH: Jim Gavin's grá for the '80s Dublin team

With a three-in-a-row already in the bag, this current Dublin side have already written their nam...
Newstalk
Newstalk

16.32 17 Aug 2018


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WATCH: Jim Gavin's grá...

WATCH: Jim Gavin's grá for the '80s Dublin team

Newstalk
Newstalk

16.32 17 Aug 2018


Share this article


With a three-in-a-row already in the bag, this current Dublin side have already written their names in the Gaelic football annals. 

They have an opportunity to cement their place in history further when they face Tyrone in the upcoming All Ireland senior football final to try and get a fourth title on the trot.

They'll be following on from the successful teams of the 1970s and 1980s as well as the 1995 winners, who beat Tyrone in the decider at Croke Park all those years ago.

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Jim Gavin was involved 23 years ago and as he prepares his team for the same opposition, the side of the 1970s and '80s still hold a significant place in his heart as he told Off The Ball's Maire Treasa Ni Cheallaigh this week.

Dublin players celebrate with the Sam Maguire in 1983 ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

"Certainly the '70s team would have been in one's conscience and then the great Dublin teams of the '80s, particularly that team of '83: Ciaran Duff, Brian Mullins in midfield, Tommy Drumm, John O'Leary, who I was very fortunate to play with, so they had some fantastic players in that team," he said.

"Joe McNally, who is a very good friend of mine, and the way they played their football. We've tried our best to try and keep that tradition of attacking based football because that's what's in Dublin club football.

"Obviously, your defence is such an important part of the modern game as well."

Gavin added that the game was "different in the '80s and it was more a man to man game" in regards to the defensive match-ups.

"So there was probably a lot more space on the pitch to play football and to be more attacking on both sides," he said.

"So the game has just evolved. That's just a more natural evolution of the game. I think it's fascinating for a management team for all counties to meet these challenges." 


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