We are expecting massive challenge: Dean Rock

Dean Rock is expecting Sunday's All-Ireland SFC against Tyrone in Croke Park (3.30) to be the ultimate test for Jim Gavin's men.

The sides have met already in this year's SFC as well as the league and also at the business end of last summer's championship - so the rival counties are very familiar with each other.

"We've played them twice since then (last summer) and in the most recent game (Super 8s) there was just one score in it. It went down to the wire," says Dean.

"Look, we were expecting a massive challenge from there, they're a great team and they've played lots of football this summer as well.

"All of those games stand to you over time. I'm sure they've gathered huge momentum since we played them last even, I'm sure they'll bring that to the table.

“That game in Omagh (Super 8s), I particularly remember how physical it was.

“Lads were obviously very sore after that game so I'm sure that's how it's going to set itself out in the Final.

“Guys will tell you, sometimes you don't feel as sore after certain games but that was a game where there were lots of sore bodies after.

“It took a while for guys to recover. We had two weeks between that and the Roscommon game which was great because lots of lads obviously needed it.

“Tyrone just play with such a huge intensity and they bring that on every occasion so that's something we're going to have to prep for."

The Ballymun Kickhams man is fully aware that Tyrone has strengthened their strength in depth this year and will present a major threat for Dublin throughout.

“That's a massive strength of theirs, the strength of their squad, there's guys coming in towards the end of their games,” adds Dean.

“You saw it against Donegal and Monaghan, they're finishing games really strongly and they've got 21 or 22 guys there who are chomping at the bit to come on.

“When they are coming on they make a massive impact, similar enough to our guys in that respect.”