Dublin hold the aces in attack
Holders Meath didn’t make it, but Dublin and Kildare each attract huge followings and their rivalry will be no less intense. And, if Mick O’Dwyer sticks to his word about retiring (and we don’t have a replay), it will end a remarkable odyssey for him and the Lilywhites over the past decade.
Based on the way the draw turned out, it was fairly predictable that either Dublin or Meath would come through on their side and that Kildare stood the best chance of advancing from the other. Of course, there was always the possibility that Meath would not make it, that Westmeath would do to them what they threatened to accomplish in three meetings last year, But, a serious number of injures severely limited the Midlanders this season - even though they still only lost by four points.
