Laois set to test Dublin's mettle

GAELIC GAMES:In the space of the two short years since the counties last met in the Bank of Ireland Leinster football final, the dynamics of the Dublin-Laois relationship have changed. In 2005 Laois were the more obvious choice going into the final but lost in the tightest of circumstances.

Less than a year later they were annihilated by Dublin.

This year it was possible to believe Laois could regain the whip hand in the province if only because they have the best football talent in Leinster. Under Liam Kearns's management it was expected there would be a fresh approach and a new direction after Mick O'Dwyer's departure.

At this advanced juncture of the season the jury's still out. Although the team haven't been beaten since the opening day of the NFL, championship performances haven't been very impressive. Longford were for long spells more impressive in the quarter-final whereas Wexford led until late in the semi-final.

Dublin's display against Offaly was dire but the opposition didn't require anything more elevated and the champions were tired after the previous week's Meath replay. But the shortcomings of the team were plain to see. The problem with intermittent performance is that the later into the summer the more likely opponents are to punish Dublin for it.

It's not grade A evidence but the O'Byrne Cup final last January suggested Paul Lawlor and Michael Tierney - who has racked up a man-of-the-match performance in the All-Ireland under-21 final in the meantime - will pose plenty of problems even for a solid defence.

Other straws in the winter wind that day included that it is difficult to use Conal Keaney as a high-ball option against Darren Rooney, who is accomplished in the air and likely to drop into the square, allowing Tom Kelly out to centre back, where he had greatest impact in the semi-final against Wexford.

The Dublin attack must be the principal concern for Paul Caffrey and his management. When on song they move well and take scores but when on standby they do virtually nothing constructive and the gap between the two modes is enormous.

Maybe the tactic of trying to work scores almost exclusively through Keaney and Alan Brogan makes the attack too predictable but there is also too much pressure on Brogan to score and that can translate itself into worryingly substantial wides statistics.

It's likely Joe Higgins will pick up Brogan. The absence of pattern to the forward movement is particularly damaging when a match nears boiling point and teams need to work to a plan. In their worst moments Dublin's forwards too often look like six individuals rather than a collective.

The return of Jason Sherlock will help in that regard because his use of the ball is perceptive and creates opportunities as well as providing a structure.

Laois are suffering from injuries, which deprive the team of established operators Noel Garvan and Beano McDonald.

Also of concern is Ross Munnelly's laboured form of late, which unless remedied means his unfailing industry won't harm Dublin as much.

Two years ago the final took what was to become a familiar direction. Dublin led by five at half-time and had a tight grip on the match. One of the factors in Laois's revival was the introduction of Donie Brennan, whose lively presence in the corner caused difficulty for Dublin as he scored two points himself and drew fouls in the danger zone.

That option is still there with Brennan's reversion to the bench.

Given the huge motivation of last year's trimming Laois have to be expected at least to die hard.

They are well capable of that and with greater accuracy can aim even higher, but it's a tough task for their lighter forwards given the certain physicality of the contest.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Henry, R McConnell, P Griffin; P Casey, B Cullen, B Cahill; C Whelan, S Ryan; C Moran, A Brogan, B Brogan; J Sherlock, C Keaney, M Vaughan.

LAOIS: F Byron; C Ryan, T Kelly, J Higgins; P McMahon, D Rooney, B McCormack; P Clancy, B Quigley; P O'Leary, C Conway, C Parkinson; M Tierney, P Lawlor, R Munnelly.

Referee: Michael Hughes (Tyrone).