Dublin have too much for Slaneysiders

PAT GILROY’S growth in standing as a manager over the last three years suggests he might just be able to get Dublin to an All-Ireland final this year.

However, there remain doubts. Not just because of the inability to stop Cork’s momentum in the second half of the Allianz Division One final but such flaws as his persistence of faith in Eoghan O’Gara.

During the week, Gilroy defended his decision to retain the bulwark forward in his starting line-up after his dismissal against Kildare, saying his incredible strength inhibits his tackling technique.

The manager also said they had been working hard with him since the semi-final to improve his tackling but questions have to be raised not only about the timing of such personal training in midsummer but why it has to be done at all with a footballer on a team with All-Ireland aspirations?

That is worrying.

Nevertheless, this is a game Dublin should and will win. The difference in the team from that which fought back to push Wexford into extra-time in last year’s provincial quarter-final is remarkable.

The composure they showed against Kildare when going down to 14 men was an indication of how far they’ve come since that dreadful June Bank Holiday performance.

The players are now au fait with the brand of football Gilroy and Mickey Whelan want them playing and Michael Dara Macauley’s absence in midfield shouldn’t be felt too much with Eamon Fennell out to make up for lost time.

Alan Brogan has been rightly getting all the plaudits in the last two games but Paul Flynn’s dynamism has been captivating and Bernard Brogan shouldn’t be as quiet tomorrow against a looser full-back line.

Wexford boss Jason Ryan has to realise he has one massive thing in his favour. Entice Dublin into a slug-fight and they can be beaten (like the league final). With his team being such an attacking side, they could do just that. Wexford’s defence is patchy and they will concede goals and points but if Dublin’s wing-backs advance too much, the likes of Shane Roche and Ben Brosnan will punish them. Ryan will also have recognised just how defensively Kildare played against Dublin and how little dividends were gained from such a tactic.

Likewise, kicking high ball in on Rory O’Carroll isn’t going to work. The Dublin full-back line had their best day out in years against Kildare and Paul Conlon has shown he isn’t a weak link despite his inexperience.

Ciarán Lyng and Redmond Barry will be handfuls for whatever Dublin defenders are assigned to them but the pair are coming up against a defence with structure and stamina, something they have yet to face in this campaign.

Simple arithmetic here. If it’s a game easy on the eye, Wexford have a chance but if it’s dour there should only be one outcome. It’s in Dublin’s hands to make the Tommy Delaney Cup theirs once more and the neutrals unhappy.

Verdict: Dublin

Picture: Eoghan O’Gara: Pat Gilroy has kept faith in the forward.