THE theory goes that he's lost the hunger. That at 28 and after 11 seasons Dave Tilson, happily ensconced as a stockbroker with NCB, no longer has the fire in his belly.

"Yeah, I've heard those rumours. I'll show them again on Sunday, don't worry about that," says the Shelbourne winger cum striker, defiantly if good naturedly, in advance of Sunday's FAI Harp Lager Cup final replay.

"Not at all," he maintains. "Unfortunately the old hamstrings aren't there, that's the problem. It's the other H word that I'm worried about."

But, fitter than ever in this troubled season, Tilson was back to his best in Monday's draw when his typical, twinkle toed display along the left drew comparisons with Gene Kelly from his manager, Damien Richardson.

Another performance like that would surely defy those detractors who say the wear and tear have taken their toll on a light, fleet of foot player who would probably have been better suited to full time, professional football.

"What I would say is that any time I've got into the team this season I've actually done quite well. Certainly, I would agree with people that in the last year or so at Bohs I hadn't exactly set the world alight."

An unusually loyal club servant in this day and age, the former Youths international spent three seasons on a soccer scholarship at UCD, acquiring a degree in commerce, followed by seven seasons at Bohemians.

The counter attacking styles at both UCD and, for a couple of years under Eamonn Gregg, at Bohemians, fully exploited his lightning pace, dribbling skills and finishing embodied by the Cup final winner four years ago against Cork.

He admits he "probably stayed a season too long at Bohs". A fresh challenge was required, and Shelbourne provided it when Tilson became the solution (and player in exchange) last October to a long running transfer wrangle after Brian Mooney travelled in the opposite direction.

"I like the club. The manager has been quite fair. Certainly I've enjoyed this season a helluva lot more than the previous two or three. I enjoy the way they play football and the type of system. It suits my game as such."

Alas, the recurring hamstring pulls have limited him to 13 starts, and probably left Shelbourne feeling a little concerned.

Tests on a kinetic machine in the Blackrock Clinic revealed that the left hamstring, especially, was weak. "All over the summer I'll have to go out to Blackrock two or three times a week, go on to the machine and try and build up the hamstring."

In the meantime, the Cup final offers the chance to salvage the season, both on a personal level and on a club level. "We have lost a bit of form over the last few weeks, which would worry me. Coaches will tell you that you can't just turn it back on again that easily.

"Pat's work for each other very hard, which is something that Damien has been trying to impress on us in the last few months. I know they're favourites and deserve to be, but I've a sneaking feeling we'll do it. I think our name is on the Cup."