Dublin back in the big time and loving it

It seems the only people not surprised by Dublin's appearance in the All-Ireland minor football final are the players themselves. At the start of the summer, excitement even within the county was minimal, and there was no talk of bridging the 17-year gap since Dublin last won the title.

Team captain Barry Lyons agrees that the interest in the team has run directly parallel to their progress through the championship. As they cruised through the early rounds, people began to take notice. When they won the Leinster title, they got excited. And when they beat Kerry in the semi-final, thoughts finally switched to ultimate victory.

"When we did start out this season no one gave us much of a chance," says Lyons, a key figure in the team at left half back. "There was more talk about Westmeath, who had something like 10 of their panel back, and there was talk about Laois as well.

"The only time people started noting us is when we got to the Leinster final and actually won it. Then we beat Kerry, which people were saying was the best Kerry minor team in 20 years.

"But we were confident in ourselves all along, especially with the panel of players that we have. Every one of them could play and every week the manager found it hard to pick his favourite 15. And he still does."

The team has been gaining momentum through the summer. A 46-point win over Kilkenny may have been a freak result, but they beat Louth by 19-points, Kildare by six, and then enjoyed a 14-point win over Offaly in the Leinster final. Kerry, though, provided a steely challenge.

"Kerry really tested us, and it was the first time a team had really done that. In every other game we went up 10 points in the first 10 or 15 minutes, but Kerry came back very well against us. That really tested the character of the team because we hadn't come up against that, and we were delighted to come through. And in the second half we only gave away three points.

"So we are quietly confident now, but of course you can't be over-confident. Whenever you get to an All-Ireland final it's all about what happens on the day, and whatever goes right for you."

Their progression has been aided by a remarkable bond within the squad. Manager Paddy Canning first took the players as an under-16 development squad and saw them through to minor level, and Lyons has felt the team get stronger each year.

"Paddy is like a club manager now in that we've seen him every week for the past three years. And so there's a great spirit in the whole team. I mean everyone gets on with everyone."

Captaincy was a welcome surprise for Lyons: "Paddy just asked me one evening and I said 'lovely, I'd be delighted to'. Playing for Dublin is an honour and to be captain is just a bonus."

Lyons also enjoys the company of two fellow Round Towers club-mates on the panel, centre forward Mark Taylor and substitute Ciarβn Corrigan. For advice and inspiration, though, he usually goes to his uncle and former Dublin player Keith Barr.

"I joined Round Towers in Clondalkin at the age of 10, but even before that I was going to see Keith play and I wanted to achieve what he was achieving. He throws in advice every week now and he has been a great help to me."

The advice on Sunday's opponents is simple. Tyrone are physically strong and not afraid of a hard game and although they looked limited in their semi-final win, Lyons knows what to expect.

"All we've seen of them is their semi-final with Mayo on the TV. It wasn't a great game for them but it would be impossible for them to play that bad again. I'm sure they will be a completely different team come Sunday.

"Ulster teams have a tradition of being physically strong but we'll just have to cope with it. But the important thing is to play our own game, like we have done so far."

Lyons is approaching the game with the sort of maturity you would expect from a team captain.

"It affects the nerves alright but the day you're not nervous is the day to give it up. You try to keep your mind off the pressure until Sunday and then go through your own rituals or superstitions or whatever. And once you get your first feel for the ball you just settle down."