Advertisement
Dublin's Paddy Andrews. INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Comment

5 key questions for tonight's Leinster SFC games in Croke Park

Dublin’s new players, Kildare’s youthful addition, Westmeath’s John Heslin and Offaly’s Division 4 status.

1. Who will make a statement of intent?

The opening weekends of the football championship have been defined by teams setting down a marker.

Defending Connacht champions Mayo walloped Galway in a game that had been envisaged to be a close contest.

Defending Ulster champions Donegal flexed their muscles in an excellent display that disposed of Tyrone.

And in Munster the defending champions Cork and their chief challengers Kerry were both ruthless in dispatching Limerick and Tipperary respectively last weekend.

The last of the four defending provincial champions Dublin go into action tonight while Kildare, another team with designs on joining the elite, are also set to feature. The progress of the pair, the form of their players and the intentions they have for the 2013 campaign will be watched with interest.

2. How will Dublin’s new players fare?

A third of the Dublin side selected to start tonight did not feature in any shape or form on the occasion of their last championship outing when they lost out to Mayo in last September’s All-Ireland semi-final.

Jonny Cooper and Darren Daly have both nailed down spots in the full-back line after excellent league form while Jack McCaffrey has been a revelation at wing-back. Up front Paul Mannion has been electric.

One of the more interesting inclusions is Paddy Andrews. Corner-back when Dublin were humiliated by Kerry in the 2009 All-Ireland quarter-final, he was then discarded from the inter-county scene for a while before returning rejuvenated to impress in attack in this spring’s league campaign.

Barry Cahill:
“I’m not surprised by how well Paddy Andrews is going. I have a huge amount of time for him. We always knew that potential was in him.

“He never quite broke into the set up under Pat (Gilroy). I think when word came through that Jim (Gavin) was taking over, Paddy really decided to knuckle down and sort of dedicate his life to it. He’s definitely matured.

“I think he’s more settled in his job and he’s finished college. He either had to do it or else he’d be back with the club for the rest of his career and people would have been talking about this great potential that he had.”

3. Will Kildare’s U21 stars make a telling impact?

A third of the Lilywhites U21 side that won the provincial crown in April are named in their senior team to start tonight.

Goalkeeper Mark Donnellan, midfielder Daniel Flynn, wing-forward Paul Cribbin, centre-forward Niall Kelly and corner-forward Paddy Brophy will all make their senior championship debuts.

They have all impressed during the league and it is the best crop of young players to emerge during Kieran McGeeney’s time in charge. It will be interesting to observe what influence they can exert, particularly in attack.

John Doyle:
“For the older guys it’s refreshing to have that influx of lads, they’re full of exuberance. That in itself can be a rejuvenating factor for the older lads, it’s important.

“There’s no hang-ups with the young guys, they just want to get out and play football. It’s that sort of rawness that you’d want off them, with the courage to express themselves.”

Kildare’s Paddy Brophy.
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan

4. Can John Heslin cause problems for Dublin at midfield?

Westmeath’s transformation this season has been remarkable. After scrapping to avoid relegation last year, they have bounced into the summer this time around on the back of a productive spring that saw them reach the Division 2 league final and gain promotion to the top flight.

One of their key figures has been John Heslin, the young midfielder who displayed serious potential last summer – after returning from a short AFL sojourn with Richmond – and has maintained that form to date this year. Given Dublin have experienced difficulties recently at midfield, Heslin could be a major presence tonight.

Dessie Dolan:
“He (John) has one thing in his favour, he has a spectacular catch and if you saw him through the National League some of the things that he can do when catching is incredible.

“He has just a burning desire to play GAA. He’s a beautiful striker of the ball, a very intelligent footballer. Physically he’s not the biggest man in the world but for his age he’s playing well above his years and he will a big player in the future.”

Westmeath’s John Heslin
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

5. Will Offaly find the step up tough from Division 4?

Offaly enjoyed a fruitful league as they gained promotion from the basement tier, albeit they lost out in the Division 4 final to Limerick in Croke Park in April. What will concern them is how the two teams they were in that promotion hunt with – Limerick and Tipperary – fared when coming up against Division 1 opposition last week in the championship arena.

Limerick lost by 18 points on home soil against Cork while Tipperary were defeated by 17 points in Killarney by Kerry. This evening Offaly come up against Division 1 opponents in Kildare. It is a gap they must try to bridge.

Offaly boss Emmet McDonnell
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer

Dublin make 3 changes from league final for Westmeath test

5 U21 players to start in Kildare senior side against Offaly

It’s 9 years since Westmeath shocked the Dubs in Croke Park