LEINSTER SFC FINAL: DUBLIN GO in search of a fifth successive Leinster title on Sunday against the latest opponents, Kildare, to step above the mediocrity that has prevailed in the province this century.
We know what Dublin really really want. “Well, we’ve made no secret that our goal is to win an All-Ireland,” Dublin forward Alan Brogan said for the umpteenth time yesterday ahead of a championship meeting that has not occurred since his goal in 2002 killed off the Lilywhites to secure a first Leinster medal and confirm Dublin’s re-emergence.
Kildare adopted the Armagh blueprint of that period when hiring Kieran McGeeney and Paul Grimley, Joe Kernan’s chief lieutenant when McGeeney was captain and the Orchard County threatened to dominate Gaelic football at the start of the decade.
Armagh won the All-Ireland title in 2002 but repeat All-Ireland success never materialised, yet the team McGeeney led from centre back will not be considered harshly by history. They were a ruthless group with some outstanding footballers. That is what McGeeney the manager seeks to bring to Kildare.
“Kieran is very organised and obviously has a clear idea about the way he wants them to play,” said Dublin manager Pat Gilroy yesterday. “They are certainly tackling harder and are very well set up and organised. He is bringing all the experience he has as a player and a captain to it.
“You can see that coming out in them. There are a lot of his traits in that team. They don’t seem to give up. They don’t seem to be too fazed when things are going against them, like they were in the first 10 minutes against Laois.What impressed me most was that they dealt with adversity very well. Things didn’t go flowingly well for them. They changed the game and it didn’t affect them at all.”
Gilroy was forced into one change from the 27-point defeat of Westmeath with Kilmacud Crokes teenager Rory O’Carroll opting out of the panel for a summer trip to Thailand.
At first glance it seems misguided for the corner back to depart just one game into a promising championship career but O’Carroll was nearing burnout having represented 11 teams since November in both hurling and football. Before he leaves, he will line out for the Dublin Under-21s in the Leinster hurling final against Kilkenny next Wednesday.
“He postponed it for about five weeks to see how things went with his football and hurling. I guess the whole thing, just with all the teams he has been involved with, became too much and he felt he would get more benefit for himself long-term by just taking some time out. We have to respect that and move on from it. We are lucky in that we have a strong panel to deal with a situation like that.”
O’Carroll’s departure was amicable with Gilroy adding: “It is a huge decision and he wouldn’t have made that lightly. I have no issues with Rory.”
This gives the versatile Paddy Andrews a chance in defence after struggling to make an impact at centre forward against Meath on June 7th. The substitutes have yet to be confirmed but senior figures under the previous regime like Ciarán Whelan, Shane Ryan, Tomás Quinn and Bryan Cullen will be used if necessary.
DUBLIN(SF v Kildare): S Cluxton; D Henry, D Bastick, P Andrews; P Griffin, G Brennan, B Cahill; R McConnell, D Magee; P Flynn, A Brogan, D Connolly; J Sherlock, B Brogan, C Keaney.
