Emotional weekend for Dubs boss Caffrey

Dublin manager Paul Caffrey can breathe again today after an emotional rollercoaster of a weekend which had a perfect ending for the man they call "Pillar".

Garda Caffrey, in his first season in charge of the Dubs, watched his side pick up the capital's 45th Leinster SFC title yesterday amid joyous Croke Park scenes.

Yet on the eve of the final clash with Laois, which was decided by a late Tomas Quinn '45, Caffrey's wife's mother had passed away, putting the final into great perspective for the former selector.

"You know we all talk about football being so serious," explained an emotional Caffrey in the aftermath of the 0-14 to 0-13 win.

"But there was a little lady in Heaven, blessing this team today. My wife's mother died yesterday. And I'd just like to say 'Thanks Theresa'."

Life goes on and so does the championship and Caffrey is hopeful that his side, who will face a qualifier winner in the All-Ireland quarter-finals on August 13, can progress beyond the reaches of their Delaney Cup success.

"I suppose belief comes from the winning of titles, but it remains to be seen how far we can step on from this. They're a great bunch of lads and I'm awful proud of every one of them," he said.

"How much more can we develop? That'll be our job. To push the bar up a little bit higher. But we know we came through a very tight game today. Let's hope they can grow a little bit more."

Beaten but unbowed, Mick O'Dwyer's Laois men, who came back from a five-point half-time deficit to lead by two by the 64th-minute, are banking on the rub of the green in next weekend's draw for the fourth round qualifiers.

O'Dwyer admitted: "We recovered marvellously in the second half. I was delighted for the players because we absolutely played tripe in the first half.

"Going into the qualifiers is not good at any time. Winning the provincial championship is a lot easier. It all depends on the draw now."

Monaghan, Cavan, Sligo and Derry are all potential qualifier opponents for the midlanders, who were edged by Westmeath in a replay for last year's Leinster crown.