Brogan and Ryan respectful of Tyrone's record
Since the new championship format was introduced in 2001, Dublin's footballers have qualified for seven out of a possible eight All-Ireland quarter-finals - 2003 was the only year they missed out.
An excellent record undoubtedly. But when you consider that the Metropolitans are still waiting to win their first All-Ireland SFC title since 1995, you get a sense of what is driving Alan Brogan and company on this summer.
Brogan was clearly delighted to lift the Delaney Cup last month, confirming the Dubs as Leinster champions for a fourth successive year.
He needs no reminding though that his side have lost back-to-back All-Ireland semi-finals, going down to Mayo in 2006 and Kerry last year.
Given the quality they have shown in 2008, reaching an All-Ireland decider should not be beyond them this time around.
Nonetheless, Brogan is wisely not looking beyond Saturday's quarter-final clash with Tyrone, especially as the Red Hands ended their title challenge at the same stage in a 2005 replay.
"Sure, it gives us a chance for a bit of retribution or whatever you want to call it, but I think that is in the past now. Guys are only worried about what will happen going forward," Brogan admitted.
"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 the country. 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?"
Whatever about 2005, Dublin are hot favourites for this weekend's game especially after their hammering last month of Wexford, the surprise All-Ireland semi-finalists.
If they do go on to land the Sam Maguire in the coming weeks, Brogan insists it will be one of 'the most hard-won All-Irelands' in recent years.
"We've won the last four Leinsters and the problem has been making that step-up (afterwards to All-Ireland level).
"We've invested a lot of time and energy and talking about how to make that step. Time will tell if we can.
"Guys know the level we're at. They know the amount of preparation that has been put in. We've done a hell of a lot of work and hopefully that will be rewarded. No stone has been left unturned."
One of Dublin's best players this year has been midfielder Shane Ryan, who turned in some stamina-sapping displays against Louth, Westmeath and Wexford.
Looking forward to the 82,000-sell-out on Saturday, Ryan has attemped to play down expectations as the Dubs square up to a team that includes a plethora of All-Ireland medal winners.
"It's all very easy to say that Dublin are favourites looking at the teams on paper but Tyrone are the team with all the All-Ireland medals," Ryan explained.
"In our whole panel, we've got just one between us (Jason Sherlock from 1995). Most of that Tyrone side have two.
"We struggled past Westmeath, Tyrone beat a Mayo team that beat us a couple of years ago.
"You can look into it any way you want but it's still 15 against 15. It's a big challenge for us.
"But it's no secret what our ultimate ambition is and you want to play against the best teams around and Tyrone are still up there."
