THEY’VE ALREADY BOOKED their spot in the Division 1 league semi-finals.
And now the Dublin footballers have been labelled as the team to beat in 2013 by one of their former midfield greats.
Ciaran Whelan has been left hugely impressed by the early stages of the Jim Gavin era this season.
Dublin’s attacking style of play, the impact made by the products from their All-Ireland winning underage sides and their strength in depth all add up to a positive picture in the eyes of Whelan.
“I think they are going to be the team to beat,” stated Whelan, speaking yesterday at the launch of Race To Rás in Croke Park.
“Certainly they’re the form team at the moment and I think a lot of teams will fear coming up against them.
“That’s not to say that they can’t be bet. But it’s going to take a very good team to beat them and they’re going to be frontrunners come the championship.”
The strength in depth they have coming off the bench is phenomenal.
“I’ve been impressed with the newcomers. Jonny Cooper has done very well at full-back. Jack McCaffrey’s done very well at wing-back. They need to get a bit of consistency at midfield, he has to find his best two but his options in the forward line are just frightening.
“The Ballymun contingent have to come back into the equation. That’s the challenge that Jim has and probably finding his best balance and best 15 is going to be his biggest challenge come the summer.”
“Jim has a philosophy, he wants to play attacking football. The likes of Kildare and Down tried to negate that by putting men behind the ball.
“But that game is only sustainable if it’s well drilled on the training ground. Dublin stayed patient on both occasions and just broke them down.
Ciaran Whelan.
Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
