Dublin have found themselves perfectly poised to win their first minor title since 1984. After cruising through Leinster with a phenomenal scoring record, they then discarded a Kerry team widely regarded as the most talented to come out of the Kingdom in several decades.Opponents Tyrone, back in the final for the first time since winning the title in 1998, have paved a much less impressive route.
After an uneasy Ulster campaign, they struggled to get past Mayo in a semi-final which was largely forgettable.Yet, tomorrow's final doesn't quite fall into the textbook of simple predictions - not that minor finals ever do. While Dublin have been highly impressive, Tyrone remain highly capable. And while Kerry did provide a stern test of Dublin's football, Tyrone will provide a greater physical challenge."We know Tyrone will be a very different side again from what Kerry were," says Dublin manager Paddy Canning, who took the team as an under-16 development squad and saw them through to minor level this year. "They have a diamond around the middle of the park and we know they will be physically stronger. And they are a very competitive side."Tyrone's strength has hinged on team captain Peter Donnelly at midfield, a model of consistency in scoring and creativity. Forwards Leo Meenan and SeβCavanagh are also potent scorers, and Colm Donnelly has also been called into the attack after a key role as a substitute against Mayo.The three-point win in the semi-final would also have been significantly higher were it not for Mayo goalkeeper David Clarke, who made at least three spider-man saves from the Tyrone forwards. The daylight win over Derry - 2-15 to 1-7 - in the Ulster semi-final is probably a more accurate reflection of their ability.But few minor teams have ever rivalled the scoring rate of the Dublin forwards. Right half forward Niall McAuliffe has been doing some serious damage all summer, including 5-1 against Kilkenny, 0-5 against Offaly in the Leinster final, and then a crucial 0-3 against Kerry.Both corner forwards, David O'Callaghan and John Noonan, are never far from a score, and Brian Cullen and Mark Taylor form a very strong middle line. Team captain Barry Lyons has also come up from wing back to twice hit the net.Midfielders Padraig Brennan and Declan O'Mahony have displayed a commendable work-rate, and there is ample back up on the bench as well in the likes of Martin Whelan and Ciarβn Corrigan.It was the game against Kerry that helped seal Dublin's fate as favourites for this title. The sides were level at 2-6 at the break and again at 2-9 going into the final 10 minutes. Dublin then showed some steel and took the final four scores, and that's helped instil the sort of confidence that can take them over the finish line first.While Canning is wary of the pressure on his side, he too is cautiously confident: "Of course we're very happy with the way things have gone so far this summer, but so much about minors depends about how they play on the day. Kerry certainly put it up to us the last day, but I was happy with the way we responded, especially in the last 10 minutes."It is a bit of a worry that the team are going in as favourites but I know they are a fairly focused bunch. We have some good individuals there but more importantly they are very good as unit."That team spirit, developed with Canning over the past three years, may well be Dublin's greatest strength. Backed up with the growing confidence and momentum, and the clear ability to produce scores, Dublin will end their 17-year absence from the list of minor winning teams.DUBLIN: P Copeland; D Galvin, M Fitzpatrick, G Dent; P Griffin, B Cullen, B Lyons; D O'Mahoney, P Brennan; N McAuliffe, M Taylor, G Brennan; D O'Callaghan, G Cullen, J Noonan. TYRONE: J Devine; R O'Neill, D Carlin, M McStravock; J McMahon, K McCrory, P Quinn; P Donnelly, B Mulligan; C Donnelly, S Cavanagh, T McGuigan; L Meenan, M Penrose, G Toner.
