Talented Dublin to pass Déise test

GAELIC GAMES:THAT BOTH teams overcame Kilkenny en route to this juncture should speak volumes about the equal potential for them to go on and win an All-Ireland, but Kilkenny were beatable at this age grade this year.

So too are Waterford, as Clare showed in the Munster final. Dublin, well, they remain in the shade of their football counterparts, of which, four hurlers are playing a dual role.

The four crossover teenagers are corner back Eric Lowndes, wing forwards Ciarán Kilkenny and Emmet Ó Conghaile and corner forward Cormac Costello, who is son of the county board chief John Costello.

Shay Boland and football manager Dessie Farrell have worked well in balancing the work load to ensure maximum value from this quartet. But hurling requires a little extra so Mick Connolly has been doing additional “touch work”, Boland revealed, with the four highly talented players.

Niall Quinn was a hurler when Dublin last made it to an All-Ireland final in 1983. Galway beat them. The young men of the west are waiting once again in the showcase event on September 4th.

Waterford will provide the sternest challenge to date as the Déise seek to make it back to the main stage for the first time since 1992. Their only change in personnel sees goalkeeper Paddy Cooke replace Shane Forristal.

Dublin have picked the same team that beat Kilkenny in the Leinster final. They will be tested but to overcome Galway in the final, passing a solid examination by Waterford is essential.

DUBLIN: C Ryan; E Lowndes, C O Callaghan, S McClelland; C Crummy, J Desmond, M McCaffrey; C Cronin, G Whelan; E Ó Conghaile, C McHugh, C Kilkenny; P Winters, A Clabby, C Costello.

WATERFORD: P Cooke; J Barron, D Ahern, C Walsh; I Kenny, D Foley, J Power; S McNulty, R Barry; J Dillon, G O’Brien, D Breathnach; P O’Keeffe, S Bennett, C Curran.

Referee: G Duffy (Antrim).