Dublin look good for the high five - but it will be a stretch

Dublin v Kildare:In the last episode: Haven't met in the championship since Dublin's Leinster final win seven years ago. Goals from Alan Brogan and Ray Cosgrove set Dublin on their way in 2002 but infamously from the champions' point of view, they coughed up a six-point half-time lead within 90 seconds of the restart in the replayed 2000 final.

You bet: Dublin are hardening as favourites from 8-15 earlier in the week to 1-2, with Kildare out from 2-1 to 21-10 and 15/2 the draw.

On your marks: Dermot Earley has been the most impressive centrefielder in the championship, well supported by Daryl Flynn. Darren Magee has been solid for Dublin and Ross McConnell lively. Neither team can afford to be decisively beaten in this area and the extent to which Dublin can counter Earley will be crucial to the outcome.

Gaining ground: Croke Park is expected to be full, which will be a relief to Leinster Council for whom the 51,458 attendance at the Dublin-Westmeath semi-final was a disappointment. Talk of Kildare’s lack of experience at the venue is overstated, as most of the players have played here at various levels, including two creditable displays in the All-Ireland series last year.

Just the ticket: Tickets will be on sale today from 11am-4pm at the GAA ticket office on the North Circular Road, opposite Gill’s pub, and tomorrow from the same outlet , from 10.45. Stands cost €35, juveniles €5 and terrace €20.

Crystal gazing: Unlike the bookies’ odds, any reasonable opinion on this has to be finely balanced. Dublin get a narrow vote, as their attack has greater potential but a good defensive platform will also be needed. The champions do, however, have the experience and know-how in provincial finals.

FOR THE first time since going in as underdogs against Laois four years ago, Dublin enter a Leinster football final unsure of success. This is probably for the best. Laying waste to the province hasn’t been of any benefit in subsequent All-Ireland championships and tomorrow promises to tell manager Pat Gilroy more than the matches against Meath and Westmeath combined.

Kildare have momentum. Their dismantling of Laois in the semi-final was as impressive, if not more so, than Dublin’s dispatch of a non-existent Westmeath challenge. Kieran McGeeney’s side have also seen off Wexford and Offaly, counties which, like Laois, have been in recent Leinster finals.

Kildare are one of the most improved teams in the country, their remorseless system, Dermot Earley’s form at centrefield and the improved variety of their attack combining for an urgent league campaign that was unlucky to end up in narrowly missed promotion.

Dublin can’t be too sure where they stand. Neither of the provincial outings to date have been testing, even if Meath were within a score of them at the final whistle. The poor finishing in that match became dead-eye in the semi-final but against virtually zero-resistance defending.

Of concern had to be the leaking of seven points from play to two corner forwards on a team that was in the process of losing by 27. Since then Rory O’Carroll has disappeared on extended holiday, taking with him the only genuine full-back line credentials on view the last day.

His replacement, Paddy Andrews, is another multi-purpose corner back who last started at centre forward against Meath. Aggravating the situation is the fact Kildare’s full forwards have been one of the team’s best lines and although Eamonn Callaghan is out because of injury, the attacking threats of John Doyle and Alan Smith remain.

Dublin’s half backs have been in good form, building movements from the back, but are likely to need to drop back because when Kildare pull back Ronan Sweeney and Pádraig O’Neill there’ll be a lot of space to cover if Dublin are to protect their full backs.

Kildare won’t be intimidated because the teams have a competitive history at under-21 level this decade and as outsiders won’t be inhibited by expectation.

Dublin have the stronger bench but it’s not yet established how effectively such experienced reserves as Shane Ryan, Ciarán Whelan and Bryan Cullen can turn matches as opposed to maintaining momentum.

The manner in which the Leinster champions kept the pedal to the floor when on top against Westmeath was striking but Kildare won’t concede that sort of space and possession will be harder won and spent. Dublin, however, won’t be steamrolled in the manner that Laois were once a competitive opening 20 minutes was over.

Dublin are within touching distance of a fifth successive title but it will be a stretch.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Henry, D Bastick, P Andrews; P Griffin (capt), G Brennan, B Cahill; R McConnell, D Magee; P Flynn, A Brogan, D Connolly; C Keaney, B Brogan, J Sherlock.

KILDARE: T Corley; H McGrillen, M Foley, E Bolton; M O’Flaherty, B Flanagan, M Conway; D Flynn, D Earley; J Kavanagh, P O’Neill, R Sweeney; A Smith, K Donnelly, J Doyle.

Referee: Pat McEnaney (Monaghan).