Cullen confident Dubs can make All-Ireland breakthrough

Bryan Cullen believes 2008 can be the year that four in-a-row Leinster championship chasing Dublin can make the All-Ireland breakthrough and bring the Sam Maguire Cup to the capital for the first time since 1995.

Speaking at the launch of Ulster Bank's sponsorship of the All-Ireland Senior Football championship, the centre-back feels that although his side have captured provincial honours in the past three years, winning the Leinster title is an ideal springboard into the All-Ireland series.

"The Leinster championship has been our bread and butter over the last few years and it's what has made us the team we are," the 24-year-old admitted.

"We've got huge confidence now from winning Leinster titles and it's a lot easier to go into the All-Ireland series with a medal in your back pocket and a bit of success."

With Dublin already unbeaten this season in both the O'Byrne Cup and National Football League, Cullen is well aware that victories help build momentum and he is hopeful of bringing this positive form into the summer months.

"It's great for confidence. It is a lot more difficult to go and win an All-Ireland when you have to go through qualifiers and pick yourself up after defeats. We'll be aiming to win it through the championship route."

However the talented defender is realistic about his side's prospects this year but reckons that once again Dublin can be in the shake-up come the business end of the championship.

With pressures growing year on year for Dublin to deliver an All-Ireland crown, Cullen is as optimistic as ever that this can be achieved in 2008.

"I thought that last year and the year before as well to be honest. I'd always be in a very positive frame of mind entering the championship.

"We've been there or thereabouts over the past couple of years. I think we'll be in the melting pot again but what's going to happen - only time will tell."