Michael Carton admits Dublin have taken a step backwards this year after winning the Leinster SHC and coming within a whisker of reaching the All-Ireland final in 2013.

"We're missing that bit of consistency that we had for the last few years," the wing back lamented after Dublin's 13-point loss to Tipperary.

"We'll just have to get back and work hard to get there again. Every year you step on the field you want to go forward and we went one step backwards this year. A heartbreaking performance. You think the preparation is done and you're ready to hurl. But you have to hurl when you cross the white line.

"You can have all the gimmicks in the world, but you have to want the ball. We were dropping simple balls out there and just didn't look the team we have been of late. It's just so disappointing."

Carton added that Dublin's performances against Kilkenny (in the Leinster final) and Tipperary weren't acceptable for a team with such big ambitions.

"Well after the last two performances, yeah probably. I'll never mind losing if you perform on the pitch and play with a bit of freedom.

"We didn't do that the last two days and it's just not good enough at this stage. We're a mature team, we shouldn't be going out playing like that." Tweet

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