Better-balanced Dublin should just shade it

Dublin v Meath: This Dublin team have been through three years of upsets and appear to have learned enough hard lessons to handle Meath - despite their current revival - tomorrow.

By tomorrow evening there will be a clear picture of what lies ahead for the two traditional Leinster football strongholds in this year's championship.

Last weekend backed up the assertion that the province is truly wide open. As it stands, four, even five, teams are still genuine contenders. In previous years everyone would tip either Dublin or Meath from Leinster, but this has long been based on very little actual evidence.

This year, though, I have been very impressed by Dublin. There is less hype, far less talk and a more realistic approach from the new management. Well, that's what it seems like down here in Kerry.

A silent Dublin worries other counties and they went about their league business in a highly efficient manner.

The slight tweaking of the team has been impressive. The problems have never been in defence for Dublin but new corner back Stephen O'Shaughnessy and Barry Cahill at centre back brings a new balance that tightens up the rearguard.

Bryan Cullen is a well-rounded footballer and should do well in the half-forward line. It's a well worn document that tells you they have been found wanting here recently but Cullen and Conal Keaney will help the lightweight attack win the crucial 50-50 balls. Again, these slight changes bring a balance not seen in recent times.

The inconsistency of their midfield has been another Achilles' heel. Ciarán Whelan and Darren Homan proved an unreliable combination over 70 minutes and this severely hurt the team on the really big days. Shane Ryan has shown over the league he is the ideal foil for Whelan.

The all-action, full of running style of Ryan complements Whelan and allows him perform the primary duty of fielding. His presence also affords Whelan time to conserve energy. It is impossible for Whelan to have an impact throughout when making trademark explosive runs forward, picking off scores (as he is wont to do) and taking a hit or two on the way.

There is no doubting Whelan's ability to dictate a game, it's just we have not seen it for some time. He is a big man, so after such cameos he tends to be out of it for the next 10 minutes, but Ryan carries the burden here.

If there is a flaw in the Dublin make-up it is when the half backs and midfielders over-carry possession.

For the inside line of Keaney, Jason Sherlock and Tomás Quinn to make an impact, they must receive quick, well-timed, low ball. They lack the physical presence of, say, Armagh so slowing the supply line militates against them, especially with a Meath defence led by Darren Fay.

Fay and Keaney should come into contact with the winner of this joust going some way to deciding the overall outcome. If the ball comes in slow and hanging in the air, Fay will clean up all day. Seán Boylan has been trying to complement the best of his experienced players with exceptional young talent and it has worked well so far. Division Two was the ideal breeding ground for this transitional stage in Meath football as they were winning matches regularly.

If they are to make the step up to championship intensity, though, old heads like Fay, Graham Geraghty, Ollie Murphy and Paddy Reynolds must show the leadership and quality of former days. In this regard, Trevor Giles is an incalculable loss.

Youth naturally has its part to play with the Joe Sheridan versus Paddy Christie duel another key encounter that pits the raw power of the Meath forward against the guile of Christie.

Weighing up the pros and cons, Dublin should just shade this famous meeting but Meath, being Meath, will make them exert every last drop of blood, sweat and tears to attain a place in the Leinster semi-final.

Dublin v Meath - Last five meetings

1996 Leinster SFC Final

Meath 0-10 Dublin 0-8

Meath reply in the best possible fashion to Dublin winning an All-Ireland by taking both their titles back over the county line. Victory was followed up by a controversial triumph over Mayo in September when Colm Coyle and Liam Hayes were sent off. The positive for Dublin was the arrival of Ciarán Whelan.

Meath: C Martin; M O'Reilly, D Fay, M O'Connell; C Coyle, E McManus, P Reynolds; J McGuinness, J McDermott; T Giles, T Dowd, G Geraghty; E Kelly, B Reilly, B Callaghan.
Dublin: J O'Leary; P Moran, D Deasy, M Deegan; P Curran, K Barr, E Heery; B Stynes, P Bealin; C Whelan, P Gilroy, J Gavin; C Redmond, J Sherlock, D Farrell.

1997 Leinster SFC Quarter-final

Meath 1-13 Dublin 1-10

With Kildare, then Offaly, making headway in Leinster over the coming years both counties were seemingly in decline, but Meath continued to hold the Indian sign over Dublin.

Meath: C Martin; M O'Reilly, D Fay, C Coyle; N Nestor, E McManus, D Curtis; J McGuinness, J McDermot; E Kelly, T Giles, G Geraghty; T Dowd, B Reilly, O Murphy.
Dublin: J O'Leary; P Christie, I Robertson, C Walsh; P Curran, K Barr, E Heery; B Stynes, P Bealin; J Gavin, D Farrell, P Clarke; C Redmond, M Galvin, J Sherlock.

1999 Leinster SFC Final

Meath 1-14 Dublin 0-12

Meath roll back the years with a five-point victory to regain the Leinster title after three years and even kept momentum going to win a fourth All-Ireland under Seán Boylan. The Dublin downward spiral continued.

Meath: C O'Sullivan; M O'Reilly, D Fay, C Murphy; P Reynolds, E McManus, H Traynor; N Crawford, J McDermott; N Nestor, T Giles, D Curtis; E Kelly, G Geraghty, O Murphy.
Dublin: D Byrne; P Moran, P Christie, P Andrews; P Croft, J McGee, K Galvin; C Whelan, B Stynes; E Sheehy, D Farrell, D Darcy; J Gavin, I Roberston, J Sherlock.

2001 Leinster SFC Final

Meath 2-11 Dublin 0-14

Meath press home their dominance, as the Dublin resistance reached a low ebb, in a match that ultimately ended the reign of Tommy Carr in the capital. Meath went to the All-Ireland final, only to lose to Galway.

Meath: D O'Sullivan; M O'Reilly, D Fay, C Murphy; H Traynor, N Nestor, P Shankey; N Crawford, J McDermott; E Kelly, T Giles, R Kealy; O Murphy, G Geraghty, D Curtis.
Dublin: D Byrne; M Cahill, P Christe, C Goggins; P Curran, J Magee, P Andrews; C Whelan, D Homan; S Connell, D Farrell, C Moran; W McCarthy, I Robertson, J Sherlock.

2002 Leinster SFC Semi-final

Dublin 2-11 Meath 2-10

A momentum builder if ever there was one. Ray Cosgrove scored 2-3, as Dublin regained the Leinster title for the first time since 1995, only to lose by a single point against Armagh in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Dublin: S Cluxton; B Cahill, P Christie, C Goggins; P Casey, J Magee, P Andrews; C Whelan, D Homan; C Moran, S Ryan, S Connell; A Brogan, R Cosgrove, J McNally.
Meath: C Sullivan; D Fay, C Murphy, M O'Reilly; P Shankey, H Traynor, P Reynolds; N Crawford, J Cullinane; E Kelly, T Giles, N Nestor; R Magee, G Geraghty, D Curtis.