Dublin v Down, Navan, 3.30
There are no changes in either side from the line-ups that fought tirelessly but ended up on level terms in Croke Park last Sunday. Dublin, however, will be looking for a more consistent display if they are to avoid the late escape experienced in the previous encounter.
On that occasion, it took a late and expertly angled free from Liam Og O hEineachain to save Dublin's day, with the scores ending 1-10 for Dublin and 0-13 for Down.
Either way, that game was seen as one of lost opportunities for both sides. Down had got off to the better start, leading by a point at the break, but later had to thank goalkeeper John Sloan for keeping their hopes alive. They were also guilty of consistently firing wide of the post in the second-half which otherwise could have seen them through. Manager Gerry Dougherty admitted afterwards that Down should have had Dublin "beaten out of sight" before the start of the second-half.
Dublin still admitted that they got out of jail on that occasion. Their defence was too easily caught off guard, and they will be lucky to get by as unpunished on this occasion. In terms of scoring, they will again look to the towering centre-forward Brian McEvoy to create the impetus up front where he is again likely to be supported in the corner by the high-scoring Stephen Mills. He was well marked by Down's Mark Doran in the first game so that will be one of the key confrontations between the sides.
Down were the more impressive in terms of their regularity of scoring as well as the range of scorers. Along with their half-back Michael Walsh, who scored two points in total, their entire full-forward line got on the scoreboard. But Walsh was later responsible for missing three of Down's five sitters in the third quarter - emphasising the inconsistent nature of their performance.
The strong Northern support in Croke Park last Sunday seemed to give Down an extra lift in the early stages of the drawn game, and the absence of that sort of atmosphere in Navan may prove significant. After the disappointment of the seniors, Dublin will want to end the decade on a winning note and may carry the greater advantage of been given a second opportunity.
Dublin: S Cluxton; A Holly, N Cleere, N O'Driscoll; A Brogan, P Casey, A Cleere; C Murphy, K Devine; S McGann, L Og O hEineachain, C O'Driscoll; D Mills, B McEvoy, G Joyce.
Down: J Sloan; J Clarke, B Grant, M Doran; B Kearney, L Doyle, D McGrady; L Sloan, B Coulter; G Digney, M Walsh, R Murtagh; G Morgan, J Fegan, R Sexton.
