After taking a year out to study in China in 2015, Paul Mannion says he's now better equipped to cope with the physical demands of playing inter-county football.

The Kilmacud Crokes star returned to Jim Gavin's squad for 2016 and has matured into one of most feared forwards in the country.

"I was more able for this level over the last couple of years," he told The Irish Independent. "The physical conditioning has come too. And then, things just fell into place."

He added: "It's just maybe as a young player, it can be difficult, it can take time. There's a lot to learn. It's just about getting comfortable as well.

"A lot of guidance, a lot of help from the older lads, just growing up and backing myself and being more comfortable in myself and on the big stage."

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