‘We just treat each year with respect’ McManamon
DUBLIN may have completed a stunning four-in-a-row, but Kevin McManamon insists each and every All-Ireland Senior Football Championship campaign is relished and treated with the utmost respect.
The St Jude’s player, who now has six All-Ireland medals in his back pocket, was sprung from the bench in Sunday’s decider in Croke Park and fired over a point for the champions in their 2-17 to 1-14 victory over Tyrone.
McManamon’s power and pace up front have made him a huge asset for the Blues over recent years and while management may have opted to utilise those qualities from the bench at times, he appreciates every moment he takes to the pitch for his county especially given the huge level of competition in the panel.
Indeed, Dublin boss Jim Gavin has enjoyed a constant influx of new talent and McManamon knows each and every player has to give it everything to remain in the conversation when it comes to squad selection.
“It’s been a bit of whirlwind career, I’ve loved it. There’ve been so many slow shifts in the personnel and the management team, the players sticking their hand up at different times,” said McManamon after Sunday’s victory.
“We treat each year differently and I’m sure next year it won’t be the same team, won’t be the same 26 or 15 or whatever it is that goes into an All-Ireland final or goes into our first championship match or whatever game that we have”
“Each year it’s always shifting so we treat each year with respect.
“It’s tricky enough because there’s such warriors there in the second 15 that have played so many games and have won All-Stars and everything.
“Big players and big personalities in our team. And they have absolutely the same responsibility in terms of delivering the success as the lads that start the game so we always appreciate their part with our panel.
“Hopefully we’ll have another go at it again. We’re going to reset in a few months time, but we’re going to enjoy this,” he added.
Dublin yet again demonstrated great composure in GAA’s showpiece match, battling their way back from four points down to take a seven-point advantage into the break.
Goals from Paul Mannion and Templeogue Synge Street’s Niall Scully went a long way to seeing Gavin’s boys turn this match on its head and they never really allowed Tyrone a route back into contention in the second half despite the Ulster side accounting for the opening two points after the recess.
Indeed, Dublin kept on responding and stretched their lead to eight at one stage, before a Peter Harte penalty coupled with the late dismissal of Dublin’s John Small offered the Red Hand County a glimmer of hope.
Yet with the aid of their hugely impressive bench from which both McManamon and Ballyboden’s Michael Darragh Macauley were sprung and chalked up points, Dublin remained comfortably clear for the most part.
Set our stall out
Overjoyed at copper-fastening their place among the greatest teams in the game, McManamon said: “We set our stall out from the start of the year so we’re absolutely delighted.
“I don’t know if we can compare each [campaign]. We’ve got into the habit of re-setting each year. We don’t talk about numbers, or matches-in-a-row or winning or whatever it is. It’s just playing the game in front of you.
“It’s only on nights like this or tomorrow that we’ll appreciate it.
“It’s always different, it’s always unique. It’s just a great feeling,” he said.
And that success has helped breed a fiercely strong bond between the players with McManamon explaining, “There’s absolutely a pretty deep friendship, deep brotherhood between the lads.
“Maybe lads I started with in 2010, there’s probably fellas I came onto the panel with – Mick Fitz’[simons], Mick Macauley, James McCarthy, O’Gara, Cian O’Sullivan – these guys they’re my best mates.
“I’ve just been through it all with them. The likes of Butsy [Darren Daly], Paul Flynn, Bernard Brogan- these lads I’ve been to war with so many times.
“So it is a deep bond, it is a brotherhood, and no more so, I’ve got great friendships with so many of the fellas who only came into the panel with this year and I’m sure that’s going to grow over the next few days as we’re enjoying it.
“I’m just so proud to be part of the team, so proud to represent Dublin and so proud we won the title,” he said.
TAGS Sport
