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ALL-IRELAND SFC QUARTER-FINALS IT was very much business as usual for Jim Gavin in his post-match media briefing in the bowels of the Hogan Stand.

He heaped praise on his players for their attitude in the build-up to this game, their performance in unusual circumstances, and even referenced the name of the charity the Dubs sported on their jersey for the day, Aoibheann’s Pink Tie, which helps families whose children are battling cancer.

When he departed there must have been a deep sense of satisfaction for the Dublin manager, whose side head into the All-Ireland semi-final in rude health.

With top spot in the group already assured, Dublin’s first priority would have been to come through the game unscathed.

Gavin made 10 changes from the side that beat Tyrone in Omagh and fielded without a number of his onfield generals.

Brian Fenton and Ciaran Kilkenny weren’t named in the match-day squad and will go into the All-Ireland semi-final on the back of three weeks’ rest while James McCarthy and Jack McCaffrey played a half each.

Bernard Brogan’s return to action will grab most of the headlines as the former Footballer of the Year completed his recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury with a brief cameo but perhaps the most pleasing aspect of yesterday for Gavin will be the form of Cormac Costello (below).

Costello’s talent has never been in doubt. He came through the age grades with a big billing after playing minor football with the likes of Kilkenny and McCaffrey only for injury and a loss of form to halt his progress while his peers established themselves as regulars.

The Whitehall man has shown only glimpses of this talent, like in the 2016 All-Ireland final replay, and his three championship appearances before yesterday came off the bench.

However, he looked back to his best in Croke Park, kicking 0-9, six from play, before being withdrawn early in the second half. Perhaps Gavin had seen enough and wanted to save his legs for Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final.

“Cormac’s been showing that form for a good few months now,” Gavin reflected afterwards.

“He’s applied himself really well this year and been very dedicated to his sport. A result of all the hard work was the performance you have seen today, but we’ve been seeing that from him in the shadows. It was great for him and also great for the team.”

Given the nature of the game, which meant little to either side, everything on show in Croke Park yesterday carries an asterisk. But there were other encouraging signs for Dublin.

Paul Flynn was rampant while Michael Darragh Macauley showed flashes of the form that made him so hard to handle when he won his Footballer of the Year gong in 2013.

“I think the team selection was to give players opportunities, rather than resting players. I think the team selection showed that, a lot of guys have trained really well,” added Gavin.

“The strength of the squad is the sum of its parts and I think we could see that today. Anybody who was on the pitch there put in a really big shift,