Offaly feelgood factor unlikely to be enough to stop Dubs

AFTER years in the doldrums, Offaly’s resurgence has been the undoubted feelgood story of the summer but few expect a fairytale ending against Dublin in tomorrow’s Leinster SFC Final (Croke Park, 4pm, RTÉ 2).

After the huff and puff of their opening win in Longford, Paul Caffrey tweaked his starting 15 for the semi-final against Laois and the results were nothing short of spectacular.

With Bryan Cullen back to the pivotal centre-half slot, the defence looked more watertight than that which almost crumbled in Pearse Park, though how much of that was down to Laois’ fallibility is another question.

Cullen was Dublin’s best forward last year but the emergence of Conal Keaney as an attacker of true class and the second coming of Ray Cosgrove has cushioned the blow of his repositioning.

But the jigsaw isn’t yet complete. The full-back line has still to fully convince and Alan Brogan has yet to find his true form. Shane Ryan again starts in midfield alongside Ciaran Whelan, but it is surely just a matter of time before the fit-again Darren Magee saddles up alongside the Raheny man. That may be as early as tomorrow.

Against Laois, Dublin were in trouble at centrefield until Padraic Clancy’s demise and, in Alan McNamee and Ciaran McManus, Offaly possibly have the upper hand in this department.

If they establish a platform in midfield, Offaly could be in business. Against Wexford, the game plan was a simple one — win the ball and fire towards to the full-forward line with a minimum of fuss.

The result was a combined tally of 2-11 for corner-forwards Niall McNamee and Thomas Deehan. Expect more of the same tomorrow.

Offaly come into the game with three appearances in Croke Park and a whole lot of momentum behind them. Being Offaly, they won’t be phased by the magnitude of the occasion either despite their youthful profile, but they do have their own worries. The biggest concern might just be their own perceived deficiencies at the back, while McNamee and Deehan could do with some assistance from their forward colleagues.

To win, the probability is that Offaly will need to score goals and not concede any. One of those scenarios is possible, but to get both is highly improbable. Dublin to win by five.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Henry, B Cahill, P Griffin; P Casey, B Cullen, C Goggins; C Whelan, S Ryan; C Keaney, A Brogan, R Cosgrove; J Sherlock, K Bonner, T Quinn.

OFFALY: P Kelly; G Rafferty, S Sullivan, N Grennan; P McConway, S Brady, K Slattery; C McManus, A McNamee; D Hunt, P Kellaghan, N Coughlan; T Deehan, J Reynolds, N McNamee.

Referee: M Duffy, (Sligo).