IT may have been a dog's life for one of his siblings but Robbie Mahon hopes that a 3am rise for his family was worth it to see him collect silverware.

The on-loan Motherwell winger, though, is sure that watching their heroes lift the League One trophy was worthwhile for the 6,000 Pars fans inside KDM Group East End Park, and said it "means a lot" to have been mobbed by them on the pitch for photos.

Mahon, 19, joined Athletic in September until the end of the season, alongside Kane Ritchie-Hosler, and has made 12 appearances for the club ahead of what looks set to be his final match in black and white at Alloa Athletic on Saturday.

He has regularly been cited by manager James McPake as being unfortunate not to play more during a memorable campaign for Dunfermline, but that didn't stop he and his family savouring the celebrations at the weekend – even if one of his brothers was otherwise occupied back home in Ireland.

"My mum, my dad and my brother made the trip," he said.

"My other brother missed out. He had to mind the dogs back home, but I got him on FaceTime there a minute ago. It was a good moment, although I spent a lot of it with the fans.

"They made the trip from Dublin this morning; they woke up at three o'clock this morning to travel. Hopefully, they think it was worth it. I thought it was worth it!

"It doesn't feel real yet. It is unbelievable and, although the fans might not be allowed to come on the pitch, it is good. It is enjoyable and they are all coming over and saying how much we all mean to then. We're all very appreciative of that.

"It means a lot, but I think they know that. We are all out on the pitch and they come over, hug you, and are asking for photos. They've helped us all season.

"They are just as happy as we are, probably even more happy because they have been fans all their lives. It means a lot to them, and it means a lot to us."

Of the 12 appearances he has made, five have been starts, although he made a particularly telling contribution from the bench in February's sensational comeback win at Airdrieonians.

Brought on with the Pars trailing by two goals, and then being unfortunate to get the final touch on their opposition's third, he provided two assists for Matty Todd, and played a key role in helping Dunfermline win a penalty for their first goal, as they roared back to win 4-3 in the final half-an-hour.

That was one of the most pivotal matches in a season where Mahon acknowledges he's had to remain patient, continuing: "Patience, that's what it is. I feel like that's part of the reason that we've won it, because of games where players might not have been playing well, and there's lads on the bench that are just as good as them to come on, and maybe do what they couldn't do on that particular day.

"That's what we've done all season. We've come back in games where we probably shouldn't have; we've held out for a draw at Airdrie last week when we're down to nine men. It's a good spirit in the team, definitely."

With one more year left on his contract, Dubliner Mahon is focussed on returning to Motherwell next season, but said of his Pars spell: "I have loved it.

"You come into an environment like this, where it's competitive in training, but it's a healthy competition. We're all friends and we're all really close, and I think everyone knows that by how well we play together. You bring someone off, and someone comes on and they do just as well a job. The squad depth is why we are where we are.

"I've played more first team football than I've got before, and loved it."