Liam Kearns says Dublin will be feeling the pressure of five-in-a-row bid
"Even Jim Gavin will surely feel some pressure."
Wednesday 1 May 2019 09:41, UK
Tipperary football manager Liam Kearns says Dublin will be feeling pressure ahead of their bid to capture a historic fifth consecutive All-Ireland title.
Kearns, who joined the Kerry senior squad as a player in the aftermath of the Kingdom's famous All-Ireland final defeat to Offaly in 1982, explained the added weight on a team bidding for five-in-a-row.
"I certainly didn't think Offaly would beat them. I came out of that game in shock," he recalled.
"I thought they had a team that had all the answers and they got caught. The same thing applies with Dublin, they're going to have to get everything right and there's going to be huge pressure, everyone talking about it and I'd say everywhere they go now, the closer it gets.
"I think they'll win Leinster and when will they be tested? It'll be at the All-Ireland semi-final stage. You're asking who's going to test them? That's what we need really is credible candidates to really test whether the weight of history is going to bear heavy on their shoulders. That's what makes it interesting this year, it's all about Dublin and the five-in-a-row.
"I'm sure they'll avoid talking about it in the dressing room and all of that, but they just won't be able to help it because the media will drive it up, people on the street will drive it up and everybody will be talking about it. They're only human. Even Jim Gavin will surely feel some pressure in relation to it. He gives the impression of a man that never feels pressure ever, but you'd imagine even he is going to feel the pressure this year."
However, it is one thing for Dublin's performance levels to dip. Should it happen, one of the chasing pack must raise their game to overcome the reigning champions.
"Is there a team out there to take advantage if they are feeling the weight of history? That's the big thing," pondered Kearns.
"If Galway get their full panel 100 per cent right, they're not 100 miles away from it.
"If they could get everybody right and improve a bit on last year and maybe evolve a little bit more, they're the team for me. They have good forwards and they have good ball players all over the field and they're young, they've a young profile. Galway have the pedigree and they have that tradition.
"Kerry, I think they'll need a bit of time if you're talking about All-Irelands. I think Mayo, they have to be considered anyway if you're talking about it and Tyrone are the other team I suppose."
Ultimately, the Tipp boss is of the opinion that the Sky Blues are out on their own at the top.
"That's the challenge for Dublin, can they handle the weight of history? Can they handle the circumstances?
"They've done one thing [differently], they didn't compete in the Division 1 league as they did in previous years.
"They certainly didn't seem to take it as seriously. That was a nod to the weight of history because they changed what their approach has been for the last three or four years. That's interesting but I think we're grasping at straws really if we think that's an indication they might slip up. I think they're the team to beat."
Sky Sports' live GAA coverage gets underway on Saturday, May 11 as Dublin face Kilkenny in the Leinster Hurling Championship opener. You can also stay up to date with all the action by following us @SkySportsGAA and get all the latest news, previews and interviews www.skysports.com/gaa
