Dempsey targets silverware breakthrough

WHEN Luke Dempsey took over as Longford manager in the autumn of 2004, he made it clear a Leinster title was his target.

Though fortunes have improved considerably in recent years, the county has fallen well short of that goal so far, but silverware is now just 70 minutes from their grasp as they take on Dublin in the O’Byrne Cup final at Parnell Park tonight.

It would be an encouraging signing post on the road for Dempsey who has seen his side run both Kerry and Dublin close in recent championships. It would also bridge a six-year gap since the county’s last meaningful success – the 2002 Leinster minor title.

Their last trophy at senior level was claimed in this very competition eight years ago and, with Kildare, Meath and DCU already defeated, Longford have comfortably been the tournament’s best side thus far.

Dublin have struggled with consistency again in recent weeks, but they are still Dublin and will enter the match as clear favourites to retain the title they won after an extra-time defeat of Laois in the decider 13 months ago.

Dempsey has promised the visitors will “give it a good rattle” and, if the last contest between these sides is any barometer, his players should have little to fear from their more illustrious opponents.

Two summers ago, Dublin opened their Leinster Championship with a journey to Pearse Park, a venue they were fortunate to escape with a two-point defeat just 12 months after hammering the same side by eight points in Croke Park .

“That was a great game that day,” said Dempsey yesterday. “Longford gave a great performance and we will be looking to match that again this time.”

Though midfielder and captain Liam Keenan has been ruled out through injury, doubts over the fitness of four others — Shane Mulligan, Pádraig Berry, the recently returned Paul Barden and Paddy Dowd – have been dismissed.

Dublin have made seven changes from the side that struggled to victory over Westmeath in the league last weekend with the St Oliver Plunkett’s trio of Alan and Bernard Brogan and Ross McConnell returning to the starting EV.

Mark Vaughan, whose five frees were so crucial in the two-point defeat of Westmeath, is cup-tied due to his previous involvement with DIT but Kevin Bonner returns to corner-forward.

With Dublin’s next NFL assignment – the February 16 tie in Cork – in such doubt, this could be Paul Caffrey’s side’s last meaningful run-out before March and, with some fresh faces included, the hosts will be eager to impress.

Longford, for their part, approach the tie after a disappointing opening league loss in Wexford although Dempsey is hoping that any kinks were ironed out in the second-half of that contest.

“I wasn’t happy with the first-half performance but fair play to Jason Ryan, he has done a great job with Wexford. He was very good on the line, he had them all fired up and they played some nice football.

“Mattie Forde was superb too but I was much happier with our second-half performance. This game against Dublin is great for us now. Much better than training in the muck anyway.”

DUBLIN: J Leonard; D Henry, R McConnell, S O’Shaughnessy; P McMahon, P Casey, D Murray; E Fennell, S Ryan; B Cullen, A Brogan, B McManamon; J O’Brien, B Brogan, K Bonner.

LONGFORD: D Sheridan, D Brady, D Masterson, D Reilly, S Mulligan, A O’Connor, N Farrell, AN Other, E Farrell, D Barden, P Barden, P Berry, B Kavanagh, D Farrell, F McGee.