European captain Paul McGinley is hoping to avoid falling into the same trap as the Dublin footballers as he fine tunes his preparations for this month's Ryder Cup.

A self-confessed GAA fanatic, Donegal's David versus Goliath heroics reminded the former Ballyboden St Enda's player that the favourites tag counts for nothing in 'top level sport'.

"I don't think we're serious favourites but we'll be favourites and it's a tag I think we should be proud of," McGinley - whose parents hail from Donegal - said to the Examiner after announcing his wild card picks at Wentworth yesterday.

"If you look back to the days of (two-time captain from 1979 and '81) John Jacobs and there's tears in his eyes that Europe have come so far to be favourites in a Ryder Cup.

"We should be proud of that but as we all saw with Dublin-Donegal last weekend, I know Jim Gavin and he would have prepared that Dublin team incredibly well and incredibly strongly.

"He would have had a very strong strategy too and going out (as) such heavy favourites and they still get beaten.

"That's sport, that's what happens at the top level. Sometimes it just goes against you and I'm aware that could happen to this European team as well but my job is to lessen the odds of that happening and have the team very prepared, both mentally and physically.

"Jim Gavin would have done that with Dublin too and they went out and got beaten, so that's what we're dealing with here, it's top level sport."

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