Philly McMahon: Emergence of new leaders key in kickstarting Dubs push

Much of the narrative so far around the Allianz Football League has been about Dublin's struggles. They currently prop up the Division 1 standings with no points after four games and the spectre of relegation looms large.

Another defeat away to Tyrone on Sunday next, coupled with a Kildare win on their travels against Armagh, will condemn the Dubs to Division 2 for 2023.

Philly McMahon, who called time on his inter-county career last autumn, feels that a win of any sort could reignite things. However, the eight-time All-Ireland also believes that a big challenge awaits some of his former colleagues and others if they are to get back to the heights of before.

Speaking at the launch of Darkness into Light, the annual fundraising event organised by Pieta and supported by Electric Ireland, McMahon said: "I suppose I did see it (the fall off) coming but I didn't see it happening this soon. I think maybe, it's a little bit harsh on the group to say that it's going to consistently drop off because I just think, maybe one game, that will turn it around.

"They had a bad start against Armagh (round 1 of the league) - a team they'd be expecting to beat and that snowballed then, into the next couple of games - Kerry Mayo and then Kildare, who would have been looking at that game, looking to make a statement - kind of saying, if we can't beat the Dubs here now when they're kind of low on confidence, then we're not going to do it in the Leinster championship. So it's a big challenge ahead for Dublin. But if they come through it, I've no doubt they'll be all the better for it but it's a big challenge and it's going to be difficult."

Like other observers, McMahon has pointed to Dublin's slow starts in their league, a situation that leaves