SHAKING OFF BLUES KEY: ALAN

THE difference between Mayo and Dublin is the Blues’ inner belief that they’ll get the job done according to Alan Dillon but he believes that’s a bridge his former colleagues can cross.

Dillon (above) hung up his boots for the county in November, and after the county final defeat for Ballintubber by Castlebar.

The disappointment is not something he’s unaccustomed to, given that he lost six All-ireland finals over his storied Mayo career. But he says he’s retiring with an sense of satisfaction.

Interestingly, the 35-year-old (right, launching the GAA Player Conference at Croke Park yesterday) says he knows how Mayo can break that unwelcome cycle.

“I wouldn’t say they (Dublin) have a hoodoo over Mayo,” said Dillon, who made 66 SFC appearances going back to 2003. “Maybe they’ve got across that line, where they know psychologically that no matter how tight it gets that they will see it through.

“Maybe that’s a barrier Mayo need to get through this year – winning those tight games. I know from winning tight games, it’s more than just a win – it’s psychological, it’s team building. It’s everything. The harder the struggle, the sweeter the victory.”

Dillon reckons Mayo boss Stephen Rochford won’t know until the serious action starts how it the latest disappointment has affected his players.

“It was a tough one,” he admitted. “We were in a right driving seat with 15 minutes to go.

“Dublin were giving us as much as they could and we were actually holding firm. We actually looked like if we got one or two scores that we would’ve drove it home.

“But the sending off had a huge impact on the last 15 minutes.

That’s history now. “

If, after playing in and losing all those finals, Mayo were to finally lift the

Sam Maguire

Cup without him, how would he feel?

“I’d be the first man to pat every one of them on the back, because I’ve such admiration for the group,” Dillon replied.

“There’d be a sense of ‘what if’ – but as a Mayo man I’d be as proud as any other supporter. I don’t think I’d ever be envious or jealous. “I know the amount of work it takes to get there and maybe it’s that small bit of luck we probably haven’t got in previous years that might get this team over the line.”

With that in mind, perhaps the thought was planted in his head to go again.

“You come to point where your mind starts drifting away from the day in, day out things for an inter-county footballer,” he counters.

“You know you’ve enjoyed it and you stop being driven or infatuated by the whole thing. Once that’s starts going you know its time to pack it in.

“You have to be contributing and feel you can make that difference.

“Last year I was frustrated. I was playing as hard as I could in A v Bs but there comes a time where younger, fresher blood is needed to be introduced. Things are more focused now on pace and power.”