National Football League: Ian O'Riordan talks to the versatile Dublin player about renewing rivalries with Tyrone this week
It used to be the first round of the Allianz Football League was like the first day back at school, a chance for players to catch up with each other and ease slowly into the year ahead. Now it's like arriving back at exam time, especially when Dublin and Tyrone are involved, with a full house and live TV cameras also keeping close watch.
For Dublin, it's also the first high-profile game since the teams produced what was arguably the most memorable football game of last summer, their drawn All-Ireland quarter-final. Although Tyrone appear to have picked it up where they left off last summer, Dublin's Bryan Cullen isn't shying away from the challenge of meeting the All-Ireland champions on their own turf so early in the season.
"Sure, you can go out against a weaker county and not learn anything about yourself," says Cullen. "We'd much rather play the stronger teams, and make sure we get good, competitive games. But Tyrone are definitely the form team at the moment, and are always very hard to break down.
"We know if we want to get to the level Tyrone are at we need some real strength and depth, so it's up to the guys who are stepping in now to show they're up to it, and are capable of playing championship football come the summer."
Several Dublin players will step into the limelight on Sunday. Manager Paul Caffrey has a lengthy injury list (Colin Moran, Paddy Christie, Conal Keaney and Senan Connell), is still missing his Kilmacud contingent (Mark Vaughan, Ray Cosgrove, Paul Griffin and Darren Magee) and, with the Dublin under-21s in action on Saturday, he's also down several fringe players.
Tyrone, in contrast, are almost at full strength. Peter Canavan may have retired, but Kevin Hughes and Ger Cavlan have worked seamlessly back into the panel. Dublin don't share the luxury of such strength in depth.
"No, I think Tyrone have proven to be more successful at underage than us," adds Cullen, "and have quite a depth of talent coming through. But I think we've some good players as well that just haven't come to the fore yet.
"But as a team I don't think we've done any more or less than anyone else. We're doing two sessions a week, and again at the weekend.
"But we're really only getting into the swing of things now. I think our real ambitions are towards the summer and the championship, so it's only after the league when we start talking about ambitions for the year."
Given last summer's two games, a full house in Omagh is expected. Healy Park holds only 18,000, and nearly 20,000 showed up to watch Tyrone last Sunday. Once again, Cullen seems to relish the prospect.
"Well, we'd always pride ourselves on pulling a big crowd, but obviously they are doing something exceptional now. I think 19,000 is a phenomenal crowd. But I hope they come out again because we always enjoy playing in front of a big crowd."
Win or lose on Sunday, Cullen is fired up for the season. He's continuing his studies at DCU with a graduate diploma in business management, and was careful to take some time out after the toils of 2005.
"Right after the International Rules I went to America for a holiday, to visit a friend of mine in college out there. And after that I did next to nothing until Christmas. But you have to get away from it for a while, and just recharge the batteries. Even when you're tapping around with the college in November and December it can be a bit of a strain."
Right now, however, Cullen wouldn't be rushing back to play for Ireland. Even with new disciplinary measures being put in place, his experience in Australia last October was something he'd rather forget.
"It certainly was more negative. I can't say I enjoyed it. Obviously we were badly beaten, but there were incidents in the second game that were ridiculous . . . I know they've sat down again to discuss it, but there's no place for it right now."
