Dublin concentrating all their efforts on retaining the Sam Maguire

Dublin defender Philly McMahon has said the All-Ireland champions haven't spoken about any issues around biting in the wake of their recent O'Byrne Cup clash with DCU and the comments of GAA director general Páraic Duffy earlier this week.

Despite Duffy describing the incident with Patrick McBrearty in last year’s league game between Dublin and Donegal as “disgusting and shocking”, McMahon says there has been no discussion within the squad or from team management on the issue.

“Not really, no,” he replied yesterday at the Dublin County Board headquarters in Parnell Park prior to last night’s decision of the in relation to Jason Whelan. “You wouldn’t because if you’re thinking about that, when are you thinking about your football? You shouldn’t be thinking of things like that.

“You don’t get a chance to be honest. When you get to training, your head’s about trying to get into that jersey.

“I’m sure [with] every manager, it doesn’t have to be said. It’s not something that we look at and focus on because we don’t need to. We need to focus on training and football.”

McMahon hadn’t seen the comments from Duffy’s annual report when he spoke to the press yesterday and when told about them, he was loath to comment.

"I think it [the McBrearty complaint was dealt with. I'm not sure what the outcome was because I didn't get involved in it. I'm here to be a player and play football so I don't really get involved in those things . . . The Leinster Council are dealing with [the DCU incident]."

Modern conundrum
With the season starting in earnest 10 days from now, Dublin face the very modern conundrum of finding a way to defend their All-Ireland title. Only the Kerry team of the mid-2000s have done it in the past 25 years and they had a change of management between 2006 and 2007 to freshen things up.

No manager has won back-to-back All-Irelands since Billy Morgan in Cork in 1989/'90, That said, McMahon reckons the burden falls to the players as much as management to to back it up this year.

“It’s more down to the players now realising that it takes a lot more to go for it a second time and retain it a second time. Sometimes we don’t like saying it’s about retaining something, it’s about going for it again. It’s in our hands to go and get it again instead of trying to hold on to it.

“The only time I’ve experienced retaining something or winning it year after year was with Ballymun Kickhams when we won the U21 Championship so I don’t know what it takes. I’m sure the standards have to be higher and it’s going to be interesting for me to see what way the manager will do it this year. I’m sure the players will buy into that and we’ll see what the outcome is.”

Unlike last year when McMahon was tied up with Ballymun all the way to St Patrick's Day, he was back in harness early this time around. Against Louth in the O'Byrne Cup, he was the only member of the starting 15 from the All-Ireland final to face the throw-in. He didn't start a championship game until the final last year, something he hopes his greater availability will give him a chance to change in 2014.

“There’s a big advantage. You’re getting a chance to basically hold on to a jersey, whereas when you come in to the panel, you’re basically trying to push someone out and get a jersey for yourself rather than having it.

“Even Jim said it last year, it’s hard to get back into the team after being out for so long. You can understand where the management team are coming from.”