Cian O'Sullivan well schooled in steering away conversation from drive for five
The anticipation that goes with it far outstrips that of previous title tilts
Dublin Senior Football Reception, Smithfield Square, Dublin 3/9/2018 Cormac Costello and Cian O'Sullivan with the Sam Maguire trophy (Image: ©INPHO/Oisin Keniry)
There's no point in pretending that the five-in-a-row won't come up in conversation.
But Cian O'Sullivan is well schooled in steering it elsewhere.
Dublin are bidding to go one better than the three other teams to have managed four-in-a-row previously by becoming the first in football history to do five and, naturally, the anticipation that goes with it far outstrips that of previous title tilts.
"People are going to say it to you and mention it to you, nobody is coming from a bad place trying to talk to you about that and reference it," O'Sullivan acknowledges.
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"It's just a case of being able to tell yourself 'I've had that conversation' or changing the topic and try steer off it. Trying to tell yourself 'that's a potential distraction there, autocorrect and focus on what's important.'
"Right now what's important to me is we have training tonight and then we are playing a game against Roscommon on Sunday in a game which we need to get another two points.
"We had a really good strong performance against Mayo last Saturday night so if we can put in another performance like that and can get consistency for the last couple of games, that's all we're bothered with."
When asked what he falls back on most to move five-in-a-row conversations elsewhere, he smiled: "Brexit, probably. A fan favourite."
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