Dublin forward Dean Rock says he has grown from past disappointments and set-backs in his playing career.
The Ballymun Kickhams star has endured a frustrating time of trying to break into Dublin's starting 15 over the past five years, with the 25-year-old only making his first league start for the capital men last season.
2016 has seen Rock hit the ground running however, top-scoring alongside Paddy Andrews for the All-Ireland champions in their six-point win over Kerry last Saturday night, and he feels that his past battles with form and injury are now beginning to stand to him.
"I think you grow an awful lot from experiences like that," Rock told gaa.ie "I know personally I would have grown a huge amount and would have learnt a huge amount from disappointments and set-backs and I suppose that just defines a man and his character and when you are faced with adversity that you can come back.
"Certainly that helped me, getting setbacks and coming back from them. You do grit your teeth and I suppose there are a certain amount of lads who got setbacks and never came back. I think it defines the type of person you are and I'm thankful for everything that has happened to me.
"Being around the squad more and more, of course it is a confidence thing and you get more confident in your ability and the more games you play for Dublin the more you grow in the jersey.
"The older you get, you take on a bit more leadership, you don't worry about things - you aim to improve all the time and for me it's that I have got comfortable playing with Dublin."
Jim Gavin's men will look to make it two wins from two in their Division One title defence on Saturday night when they travel to take on Mayo in Castlebar (throw-in 7pm).
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