Moran underlines Laois threat ahead of final

It is not too often that Dublin footballers get an opportunity to talk to the media but Dublin captain Colin Moran was very comfortable when speaking at a press conference today ahead of Sunday's Leinster SFC final.

Dublin are going for a three in a row of Leinster titles next weekend and the 27-year-old Moran was keen to play up Laois' chances ahead of the showpiece final.

He believes that the underage success which the O'Moore county has achieved in the past decade has been the catalyst for ensuring that they can constantly challenge for senior honours.

"Laois are a very dangerous side. I think anyone that knows anything about it would say that last year's game (between Dublin and Laois) wasn't a fair reflection of where both teams are," said Moran, who was injured for Dublin's 3-17 to 0-12 semi-final win over Laois last summer.

"If you look at the games that we have had against Laois over the years, there has never been more than a point or two in it.

"They have a conveyor belt of talent coming through at underage levels and have been very successful. They have strengthened their team again this year with a few more guys that got to the Under-21 final so I think Sunday's game will go to the wire again."

Laois started sluggishly in their two championship games to date this summer against Longford and Wexford, but Moran reckons there is a big game in Liam Kearns' side and that it could happen this weekend.

"They have quality footballers with lots of ability and I'm sure that they will feel that the Leinster final against Dublin in front of 82,000 people is the place to deliver that kind of performance," he admitted.

"At the same time we feel that although we have won all of our games so far, there is a bit more in this Dublin team and we are also hoping that we can raise our performance as well on Sunday."

However, the Ballyboden clubman feels that both counties have yet to show what they are fully capable of in this year's championship.

"I think both teams haven't shown their full hand yet so far and I'd say both teams feel that Croke Park on Sunday is the place to do it."

Moran is a versatile player, used in both defence and attack in recent seasons, but does not feel that this hampers his progress at inter-county level.

"I've switched around a good few times now this season and in previous seasons as well. I suppose it's just a case of getting into that mindset straight away, you don't have time to adjust really because the next ball that comes in could be crucial.

"You just have to focus on your man-marking duties if you are sent back there and do that."

Moran finds it an interesting prospect before a major game like this weekend's final to prepare for such a versatile role.

"It's more a mental thing that anything you would physically do on the training pitch. It's just about being mentally ready for the possibilities that might arise during the game and then when it happens in the game being able to go with it."

Ross McConnell is new to the Dublin senior team this season, and the DCU student's performances at full-back have greatly impressed Moran.

"Ross is a natural footballer who can play out the field as well. People have seen how comfortable he is on the ball and he has done a great job. The full-back position is a difficult one for any team to fill, it's a specialist position but he has done very well there and he is so composed on the ball."

The Laois forwards will be hoping to rattle this composure and Dublin's confidence in a game which will see the midlanders out for revenge for January's O'Byrne Cup final defeat to the Dubs.