GAELIC GAMES:ONE OF the most encouraging aspects of Dublin's win over Armagh on the first weekend of the season was the greater spread of scorers in attack. Last season produced the unusual phenomenon of a footballer of the year who hadn't even played in the All-Ireland final and that told its own story about Dublin's reliance on Bernard Brogan.

But in the newly-illuminated Athletic Grounds last Saturday week although Brogan pocketed an almost effortless 1-3, five of the starting forwards scored from play. Kevin McManamon took two points but more eye-catchingly, having lined out in the unfamiliar intercounty role of centre forward, he gave an exhaustive display of hard running at the opposition and tracking back into his own defence.

For someone who had impressed last year as a sharp corner forward, creating chances for Brogan and taking a few himself, it was a far broader responsibility.

“It’s not too bad,” he says of the new position. “I would have played there with the club. It takes a bit of getting used to. You have to have a bit more fitness for it. That will probably take a while. I have played most of my football for Dublin at corner forward.

“I’m finding it alright but it takes getting used to. There are a couple of things you have to adapt but we talk about that in training. It’s a role I could grow into.

“I only played two games there and I only finished one of the games. It is hard work but you would be expecting any modern half forward to be doing that. As long as you are fit, you’re getting your breaks in games. There are ways of swapping with lads to give yourself a break. You might not be working back all the time so you get away with it.”

A former under-21, McManamon had established a reputation on the club scene in the past couple of years and kicked six points from play when St Jude’s created a sensation when bundling out hot favourites Oliver Plunkett’s in the 2009 Dublin semi-finals before losing the decider to Ballyboden St Enda’s.

He had already starred earlier that year in Dublin IT’s run to a first Sigerson final, scoring goals in both the semi-final against UCD and the final, which was lost to Cork IT.

Last year’s league campaign established him in pole position for a championship start but like the rest of the team, he suffered a drastic loss of form in the first round against Wexford and lost out in the shake-up before the even more disastrous Leinster semi-final with Meath. It was however noticeable that when he came in as a replacement McManamon displayed greater urgency than many of the rest of the team and even got on the scoreboard.

“It was very disappointing,” he says of the downturn in his fortunes between spring and summer of last year. “It was a long year and I put a lot of work into it. As I said, there was a lot put into those training games. I was battling it out with the two lads in front and then you have Conal Keaney and Mossy Quinn.

“It was tough. But if you are getting the performances during the summer, you will be there. I got four championship games in my first year. I would have taken that this time last year. I’m just planning to take it one step further this year.”

Asked about the difference between league and championship, which he found difficult to negotiate 12 months ago, he says it was just a process like any other adjustment between the grades.

“I suppose it’s just a different atmosphere. The very first game I played it was a bit new to me but once you settle in and by the time 20 minutes or half an hour have gone you get used to it. It’s like anything.

“I remember playing my first senior club game, it took me a while, it took me a game or two but once you do it you’re grand. As I said, it took me a bit to acclimatise but it wasn’t more than half a football game anyway.

“It was just a lot more intense, I suppose. It was something I was, in a way, ready for from training matches. You’re marking lads in training that have played for six or seven years in championship so they give you a good preparation. I suppose you can’t beat the real thing.”

His appetite for an enhanced work-rate was demonstrated by such dedication in the close season after which he returned a stone and a half lighter. That leaner, more energetic condition was obvious in Armagh.

“Yeah, I suppose we work on tackling as much as anything else. It’s something that you bring into training games and stuff like that. Yeah, we’d be hoping to keep the free count down and put as much pressure as you can on lads.”

Pressure this weekend comes from the visit of League holders and All-Ireland champions Cork to Croke Park on Saturday evening to reprise last August’s dramatic All-Ireland semi-final.

As tough a test as any team could wish for in February.