Paul Mannion now enjoying the best of both club and county

It's just over three weeks since Dublin regained the All-Ireland senior football title.

A sweet success in the capital, where rivals Kerry were seen off and a few of the old guard returned to help give the Dubs the extra push required.

Amongst those who came back was Paul Mannion after two years away. Years when the Kilmacud Crokes player watched on from a pub in Killarney and then from Boston as the Dubs suffered championship losses at the hands of Mayo and Kerry.

Mannion was named player of the match as Dublin gained revenge on the Kingdom in this year's Sam Maguire decider. Another All-Ireland to add to the collection after the Crokes reigned supreme [eventually] last January in the club final against Glen.

Speaking to the media to mark being named PwC GAA/GPA player of the month after his performance in last month's football finale, Mannion did highlight a success that was a little different to those previous.

"I genuinely don't have a favourite so to speak at all, but in the couple of weeks after the game people were saying that one was special," he said

"In the couple of weeks after the game people were saying that this was special, that it felt like 2011 and 2019.

"All of them are special in different ways but because of how the last couple of years have transpired and how we struggled early on this year, with management taking on criticism, it did feel a bit sweeter all right, for sure."

As to returning to the inter-county fold, Mannion was determined to give a right go once he made up his mind that he was going back.

"I never felt any regrets or regretted the decision.

"Once the decision was made, I was going to go back - to do whatever I can. Times, early in the year, particularly in the league when I was trying to