Recently coming by way of his sixth All-Ireland winners’ medal, Dublin’s Philly McMahon isn’t overly interested in discussing the inner-workings that have set Jim Gavin’s side so distinctly apart from the rest in Gaelic football.
Operating within a system he described as “player-centric” when appearing on The Keith Andrews Show this afternoon, McMahon, reflecting a general principle that appears to have been set in motion by Gavin himself, is far too intrigued by what can be achieved today to worry about yesterday.
“It’s one of those things where as soon as you drive into the grounds, you start to leave everything behind,” McMahon said of making the journey to Dublin training.
“Everything else in your life you try to leave at the gate.
“You’re getting your head right, you’re getting your body right, you’re doing your activation stuff, and then you’re looking for gains; what am I going to do today that’s going to help my performance in a match?”
Ultra-competitive though it may be, McMahon acknowledged the importance of a collective determination that ensures no individual is left battling on alone.
“There are some days when you might struggle,” McMahon admitted.
“Some days psychologically or physically you might struggle, but these boys keep pulling you along.
“It can be hard to leave stuff behind. I struggled the last two years with my Dad’s illness, but to have them boys pull you along, that’s the only reason I was probably still there.
The positive effects of working within this collective have undoubtedly shaped how Philly McMahon embraces the world beyond the Dublin-bubble.
“There was a light-bulb moment in 2013,” McMahon recalled.
“I had the [Sam Maguire] Cup and I was bringing it to a youth club to do a talk. I walked into my house and all these kids came over and asked me for my autograph.
Obliging the excited youngsters, McMahon was later confronted by one young child who had missed out on the initial excitement.
Unsure who exactly the Dublin corner-back with the big cup was, McMahon retains a vivid memory of what came next; “He said, ‘are you famous?’ ... ‘No, you can’t be famous because you’re from Ballymun.’”
Sitting himself down on the footpath to chat with the child for 10-minutes, McMahon took it upon himself to “pull along” the youngster in any way he could.
“I don’t know what I gave that kid that day,” McMahon reflects honestly.
“I don’t know, but I hope I gave him something, some little bit of a boost or encouragement from something I said.”
That “light-bulb moment” would culminate in McMahon redirecting his interests toward ways in which he could help others. As he reasoned himself; ‘When you’re dead and gone, it’s not the All-Irelands you’ll be remembered for, but how much energy you gave people.’
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