Casey hopes Dubs can give Kerry the blues

WITHOUT having notions about their standing in the game's pecking order as 2005's Leinster champions, Dublin's footballers would naturally have a better sense of their true worth.

The Allianz League, which reaches the end of its preliminary stage this weekend, has only been revealing about them to a certain extent. Fact is, they have had mixed results.

However, their performance a fortnight ago against Mayo, under lights at Parnell Park, showed once again that they are a promising side. At the same time, the team is some way off reaching its full potential, and, so far, has not done enough to be spoken about in the same terms as Tyrone, Kerry or Armagh.

Joe Kernan's team won't be in the shake-up for final honours in the League, but, as young Dublin defender Paul Casey points out, they are seasoned campaigners. "They know what's around the corner," he says.

The All-Ireland finalists, meanwhile, will both be chasing semi-final places on Sunday, and, as visitors to Fitzgerald Stadium, Casey acknowledges that the Dubs could have a big say in the Kingdom's future in the competition.

It could almost be a replica of the concluding round, twelve months ago, also in Killarney, when Tyrone spoiled Kerry's chances of advancing on scoring difference.

Casey, a student in DCU and a member of their successful Sigerson Cup side, will attract a lot of interest among a small section of home followers, relations and family members from Portmagee, the hometown of his father, Mick, who was a Kerry minor in the mid-sixties before going to Dublin to work with the ESB.

"He's a Dubliner, I think," jokes Paul, "I think we have converted him."

In his own youth, Paul spent lots of summer holidays around Portmagee. And, he played some football there too.

"You got to know how important football is to Kerry people, how much pride they have in their teams. They have a great tradition. We're still hearing about the Kerry/Dublin clashes of the 1970's and early 80's - and we're still watching them.

"We know that right now, we can learn a lot from playing against the top teams. And, as they have proved for the last five or six years, in the way they have been there or thereabouts every August, Kerry are one of the best. They are always a massive threat."

While they opened their campaign with a prestigious win over Tyrone in Omagh, which obviously lost some of its gloss because of the regrettable incidents that occurred, Dublin's form has been up and down since. They were surprised by Monaghan in their second outing, and, after that, the Cork defeat in Pairc Ui Rinn showed Dublin up in a poorer light. But, players and supporters left Parnell Park in buoyant mood after a sparkling performance against previously unbeaten Mayo.

"That was a very important win for us," says Casey. "It dragged us out of the relegation zone. That was the last thing we wanted - to be at risk of going down to Division Two. Every team wants to play in the first division. At least we have that to look forward to next year."

That victory, reassuring to both management and players, also gave supporters something to look forward to. "We knew there was a good performance in the team. And that was the right game to produce it."

Influential midfielder Ciaran Whelan, who continues to be one of the central figures in the team, was an early casualty in the game and is again an absentee this weekend. Key forward Tomas Quinn (ruled out with a knee injury) will also be absent. However, the Dubs have Shane Ryan to takes over from Whelan, while Jason Sherlock can step in for Quinn.

"That's one good thing about the team," says Casey. "We have strength in depth. The main thing is that we have everyone right when it comes to the summer, when there will be serious competition for places."

The critical factor in the Dubs' win over Mayo was their goal-scoring ability, particularly the two scored midway through the first half. Casey agrees that this could be the key to unlock the Munster champions. "Goals can have a massive influence in the way they give you confidence. They lift teams and they lift crowds. I suppose we were lucky against Mayo in that we got two in quick succession. They set us up nicely.

"I think Tyrone, Kerry and Armagh are still the 'big three.' Hopefully the gap is closing. Hopefully when the summer comes it will have closed substantially!"

On the issue of the GPA policy to delay the starting time of all of this weekend's games by 15 minutes, Casey is of the view that it will 'get the ball rolling' in terms of promoting dialogue with the GAA.

"There's no doubt, players are making a massive commitment and the sacrifices are all the greater for players who are married. The season lasts nearly eleven months, between club and county involvement.

"Nothing can happen until both sides start talking. When discussions take place, it will become a bit clearer for everybody.

"Nothing could compensate for the pride of playing for your county. But, there are bits and pieces the GPA are working on and looking for, which would improve the welfare of everybody."