Dublin must prove they can shut door on Tyrone

FOR all the talk about systems and tactics, there is one very simple task that Dublin must tackle on Saturday — defend.

The problem for Dublin, however, is that when they have made a step up in class in the championship it is a basic principle that they have struggled to master.

Since their re-emergence as championship contenders in 2005, the team have been undone by an inability to limit their opponents when it has come to the crunch.

Dublin don’t tend to be involved in boring matches. But the problem is that they don’t tend to be on the right side of epic, close-fought battles either.

In 2005, Pillar Caffrey’s Dubs drew 1-14 apiece with Tyrone at the quarter-final stage — but haemorrhaged in the replay and lost 2-18 to 1-14.

In 2006, they blew a commanding seven-point lead and lost an All-Ireland semi-final to Mayo by 1-16 to 2-12. Kerry made hay in 2007 and scored 1-15 to Dublin’s 0-16 in an All-Ireland semi-final.

Tyrone were back in 2008 when they made little of the rain to win 3-14 to 1-8 in an All-Ireland quarter-final.

Pat Gilroy’s debut summer culminated in a horrific 1-24 to 1-7 mauling at the hands of Kerry in the 2009 All-Ireland quarter-final.

And last year Dublin let a five-point lead slip and lost 1-15 to their 1-14 in the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork.

Ever since the Kerry disaster of 2009 Gilroy has sought to refine the swashbuckling approach of old and be less accommodating to opposition forwards.

What’s interesting is that Gilroy has repeatedly set Tyrone on a pedestal for the work rate and intensity they bring to their game.

A year ago Dublin beat Tyrone 1-15 to 0-13. The victory over the then Ulster champions was Dublin’s biggest championship scalp since beating 2001 beaten All-Ireland finalists Meath in Leinster in 2002.

That win will either stand in isolation on or be embellished by a Dublin victory that can only be achieved if they shut up shop.

Mickey Harte’s men have made no secret of the fact that they want to make up for that loss. With 34 goals in 15 competitive games in 2011, the Dubs can score. But the question remains: Can they defend?

Picture: Rory O’Carroll: His performances at full-back have given Dublin fans hope.