McMahon: I don’t see myself as an All-Ireland champion
PHILLY McMAHON has revealed the inner motivation that is driving him on in pursuit of back-to-back All-Irelands with the Dubs this year.
McMahon was named on the GPA football team of the year in 2010, his first season as a Sky Blue regular.
But this was followed by an injury-disrupted summer campaign in 2011 and, even on his return to fitness, he was reduced to the role of defensive impact sub for the All-Ireland series.
“I know personally, I’ve a lot to improve this year,” he told the Evening Herald.
“I got two bad injuries last year and missed an awful lot of football, so I don’t look at it as ‘I’m an All-Ireland champion’ – I look at it as if I’ve something to improve on this year.”
While the Ballymun clubman enjoyed Dublin’s All-Ireland celebrations, he also described them as “strange”, adding: “I always had one eye probably on the following year which is this year. Without being sour grapes, I felt that I could … do more. And it’s definitely the motivation.”
McMahon has started Dublin’s first three Allianz League outings in Division One this spring – Kerry at home, the fog-abandoned clash in Mayo and last Saturday’s trip to Laois.
He will be hoping to retain his corner-back slot for this Sunday’s latest ‘Spring Series’ offering against Armagh in Croke Park.