Cian O’Sullivan highlights role of defensive unit in Team Dublin

Dublin football's Mr Versatile, Cian O'Sullivan, has praised the efforts of Dublin's defensive unit after they opened their NFL campaign with two wins from two starts against Kerry and Mayo.

"We are all very familiar ... the guys who have slotted in there so far in the league – Davy Byrne, Mick Fitzsimons – they’ve been part of the squad for the last four or five years anyway.

“We are all very familiar with their playing styles and I think they have slotted in pretty seamlessly in those two games and have done really good jobs.

“I think whoever slots in there it’s important not to have a weight on their shoulders and it’s important the other players rally around them.

"It’s our whole half-back line and even our midfield. It’s a defensive unit’s responsibility to try and get the better of the opposition’s front six."

While the Dubs are the reigning league, Leinster and All-Ireland champions the Kilmacud Crokes man has stressed the importance of mental strength and not 'living in the past'.

“There is a lot of, you know, we’d be talked about a bit in the media and there’d be friends, family and work colleagues and everything, kind of murmurs, kind of whispers about two-in-a-row, three-in-a-row.

“You have to just block that out and push the reset button and not get carried away with yourself and just focus on the next goal, which is Monaghan in three weeks’ time.

“Because you don’t want your imagination to start running away with things.”