ALAN Brogan has called on his Dublin team-mates to banish the painful memories of 2005 when they renew championship battle with Tyrone on Saturday.
In Paul Caffrey's first year at the helm, the Red Hands stormed to a quarter-final replay victory over the Dubs en route to a second All-Ireland title.
Last season, Dublin let slip a five-point lead as the two clashed in Croker for a historic first league game under lights and Sky Blue skipper Brogan says they can avenge the 2005 and 2007 losses when they come head to head again on August 16.
" It gives us a chance for a bit of retribution or whatever you want to call it," commented Brogan of the draw which which pitted his Leinster champions against Mickey Harte's men.
" But I think that is in the past now. Guys are only worried about what will happen going forward.
" Back in 2005 Tyrone were probably a level above us and it was the first time apart from 2002 against Armagh, which was maybe a flash in the pan.
" But it was the first time we really competed against a team of that calibre, one of the top two or three in Ireland. So we would have learned a lot from it.
" They were the benchmark then. They went on to win the All-Ireland that year. We probably should have beaten them the first day and maybe the second day we fell behind and produced a bit of a comeback but they were probably that bit stronger.
" If we had caught them on the hop the first day, who knows what might have happened."
The tie was originally pencilled in for last Saturday but was later moved to facilitate a stand-alone game the following week. However, Brogan also says the squad has already refocused on the new date and are gearing up for their biggest battle of the season so far.
" We got the news late on Sunday night," he said. "We were expecting to play this Saturday but that is the way it is. If you look at it from the two sides, I suppose Tyrone have an extra week's rest.
" We thought we were going to play the next Saturday but in fairness, it is just a matter of changing around a couple of training sessions.We had a chat Monday morning and guys' heads are sorted out now."
Meanwhile Ross McConnell looks poised for a Dublin recall as the Leinster champions count down the days to Saturday's quarter-final against Tyrone.
The St Oliver Plunkett's clubman is being tipped to reclaim his full-back place amid strong indications that Paul Caffrey will reshuffle his defensive deck, with Kevin Nolan the player likely to lose out.
There could be another minor surprise on the cards, with Kevin Bonner now favoured to repel the wing-forward claims of a fit-again Bernard Brogan.
Dublin were expected to announce a team last night (Wednesday). The signs are that there will be one change in personnel from the Leinster final cakewalk - McConnell replacing Nolan for the last-eight showdown at a capacity Croke Park.
The latter made his first SFC start against Wexford, but the Kilmacud wing-back ran into early foul trouble against Redmond Barry and was replaced by Paul Casey after just 24 minutes. Casey is among several players pushing for the one defensive position that appears up for grabs. But the odds now favour McConnell whose likely return at No 3 would see David Henry revert to the corner and Colin Moran move out to the half-back line.
Moran had 'lost' his place for the Leinster final amid uncertainty over his availability but, once cleared by the DRA, he earned an 11th hour call-up for hamstrung corner-back Stephen O'Shaughnessy.
O'Shaughnessy is now restored to fitness but may have to settle for a bench role - and the same could apply to Bernard Brogan, despite a recent training ground push from last year's All Star nominee.
