Howard admits the band of brothers element is inevitably a huge part of the mix.
“The feeling of winning an All-Ireland is something I don’t think you can ever replicate.
“And when you have that agenda in you, it’s just raw emotion and to share with lads that you’ve been through the trenches with. You’ve had those dark nights in early December or whenever it is.”
And while the competition for places in the Dublin team has been fierce during Howard’s career, he says that has never impacted on the collective.
“That was a huge thing for me when I came in. These lads [experienced players like Bernard Brogan] had every right in their own head to be angry about not playing or not starting in the 15 when what they had done for Dublin football was generational and had changed the way Dublin played football.
“The likes of Bernard, Paul Flynn, Kevin McManamon and Mick Macauley. To see how they handled themselves in terms of their professionalism.
“Just say I was up against Paul Flynn [for a starting place], he wanted nothing more than for me to play well on the pitch even if that meant he was still on the sideline or Bernard Brogan or Diarmuid Connolly or whoever it was, they would always encourage you and they’d want what’s better for the team.
“You put your ego aside and concentrate on what’s best for the team. And if that’s you putting an arm around the shoulder at half-time in a game or that’s you kicking the winning score, everybody plays a role.”
