Win leaves Dublin with questions to answer

FOOTBALL ANALYST: Dublin showed admirable composure and character but failed to reassure in certain sectors.

ONCE AGAIN there's no such thing as a dull moment whenever Dublin are playing in Croke Park. They practically guarantee entertainment and drama, and yesterday was no exception. Although they were certainly stretched and had to grind out the result, right through the game I felt Dublin were going to win.

They were the more physically commanding side, and in the end fitter as well, and while the two-point winning margin was not the most convincing, what will please Paul Caffrey perhaps most is the composure and character Dublin showed towards the end, when they called on all their experience to hold off what had been a gallant Westmeath challenge.

Dublin probably should have won more comfortably, but the big question remains: are Dublin improving enough to capture that elusive All-Ireland? Certainly yesterday threw up a few more uncertainties, such as their full back position and the inconsistency of their forward line.

Getting into a fourth successive Leinster final is no small achievement, but it's no secret that winning another such title won't mean a whole lot to Dublin; it's the All-Ireland they want now. A tight game like this won't have done them any harm in the quest for that.

Before the game, I felt much hinged on the Westmeath defence holding out the Dublin forwards, and they largely succeeded in that. Their man-to-man marking was exemplary, and it made for a very frustrating afternoon for the Dublin forwards, epitomised in the way John Keane had such complete control on Alan Brogan. The thing that let them down was the number of foolish frees they conceded, which Tomás Quinn and Conal Keaney clinically converted, at least early on.

Westmeath's big problem was their own forward line; the necessary depth or quality just wasn't there. Denis Glennon and Dessie Dolan are top-class players, but as the game wore on they had to come too far out the field to get possession, and they weren't getting nearly enough support. One reason for that is the Dublin backs regrouped after a shaky start and for most of the second half were well in control.

That really only came about when Ross McConnell was taken out of full back. Unless they find a new place for him, I can't see him being picked the next day. He's a yard or two short of pace, and while you might have got away with that in the traditional game, not so much anymore. The full back needs to travel a bit more and I think McConnell was found out in that sense.

In general, however, the Dublin defence was impressive. David Henry tidied up a lot when he went into full back, and Bryan Cullen had possibly his best game in a blue jersey. He played the classic defender's game, covering right across his half-back line, positioning himself well and not wasting energy with unnecessary runs upfield.

At midfield Dublin came more into the game as time elapsed, while Westmeath faded, although Ciarán Whelan clearly has some fitness to work on.

Eamonn Fennell would be better utilised as a replacement for Whelan, because if Dublin are to be genuine All-Ireland contenders, they'll want Whelan a lot closer to his old best.

So much of that so-called middle third of the field is about sustaining momentum, and one way of doing that is to use your subs intelligently, even if that means Australian Rules-style bringing players on and off.

The most worrying thing about Dublin was their half-forward line, which at times disintegrated. It's a little unfair to criticise Jason Sherlock because he did come up with a fine score toward the end when Dublin needed it, showing coolness of head, and slick hands to set up another, but he lacks the necessary strength and size on the 40. That position is key in winning ball and setting up attacks and demands a lot of contact and digging about for breaking ball. The truth is Sherlock doesn't quite bring that to Dublin's game.

Losing Bernard Brogan was a big blow, because he brings great mobility to the wing. Paul Flynn hardly figured, while Keaney and Quinn drifted in and out of the game.

Diarmuid Connolly came on and did well, and at least he was willing to shoot. Still, Dublin's forwards were guilty of the usual complement of errors, taking poor options and just not linking up enough. Alan Brogan, naturally, will be disappointed with his game, but in fairness he did try hard, came up against an excellent marker, and did not get the support he deserved. In the end, Westmeath lost their cool a little, Dolan even missing an easy free. They'll feel they could well have won and will go into the qualifiers as a team no one will fancy meeting.

Looking at the result in Ulster, Armagh came through a typical war of attrition in what was generally a dour game. That's what Ulster semi-finals are often about, winning by whatever way it takes, but there was very little free-flowing football, the Armagh defence strangling the best Down could offer.

Armagh proved their battle-hardness but showed too much indiscipline in the defence, conceding soft frees. Part of Down's problem, besides losing Liam Doyle, was an overreliance on Benny Coulter, who was taken right out of the game by Ciarán McKeever, rounding off what was a disappointing end to Down's Ulster championship campaign.