Dubs no longer fear us, says McMahon

There was a time when Joe McMahon took great pride in holding the Indian sign over Dublin.

In the two greatest seasons of the versatile forward’s career — 2005 and 2008 — he was part of Tyrone teams that used wins over Dublin as platforms to Championship glory.

Five years on from the last of those All-Irelands, the football landscape looks a lot different for McMahon, Tyrone and, indeed Dublin.

Approaching their latest Croke Park clash, Sunday’s Allianz League final, it is the progression of Jim Gavin’s exciting young Dublin team that has captured the imagination most.

In fact, after a spell in Division 2, it was no surprise that Mickey Harte greeted their victory over Dublin in mid-March, Tyrone’s fourth in five outings, with a sigh of relief.

Relegation, he noted dourly, was nowunlikely.

Victory over Dublin this weekend would shatter such cautious talk but, for now, McMahon is happy to accept the days of Tyrone going into these matches with great expectation are long gone.

“I go back to the year we got relegated (2010), Dublin beat us up in Omagh,” said McMahon. “That was a big thing for them. I think they went on and did well in the Championship that year and won the All-Ireland the next year.

“Certainly, before that, we would have had the upper hand against them instead of coming in as underdogs. But now, in recent years, they don’t fear Tyrone as much. That’s something they’ve maybe got over and they probably feel in the last few years they’ve proved that against us, that they don’t fear us. I imagine going into Sunday will be no different for them.”

McMahon’s availability this weekend would be a big boost. He missed the four point semi-final win over Kildare with groin trouble but is on the road to recovery. “I was out doing a bit of running yesterday, it responded well so hopefully I’ll get back into training this week,” he said yesterday.

All-Ireland winning Dublin captain Bryan Cullen is in the same boat as McMahon, looking to nail down a starting spot though his recent bench role has been more to do with their vast attacking options.

“It has happened to me before,” said Cullen of his impact sub role. “My attitude has always been that if you are playing well enough, you get in the team, simple as that.”

Cullen says he won’t let the biting saga which has seen a Dublin colleague hit with a proposed three-match ban affect his preparation.

“Certainly my focus is on getting a jersey for the Tyrone game,” added Cullen. “I’m not letting any outside distractions come between me and my goal. I know most of the lads are thinking the same.”