DUBLIN AND KILDARE go head-to-head in a repeat of last year’s EirGird Leinster U21 football final on Saturday.
Like Roscommon in Connacht, Dublin are chasing their third consecutive title. Kildare, provincial champions in 2013, stand in their way.
Here are six players to watch in the highly-anticipated game:
1. Con O’Callaghan (Dublin)
The latest talented forward to roll off the Dublin production line.
O’Callaghan scored 1-7 in the quarter-final against Meath and 0-5 in the semi-final defeat of Laois. Quite a number of Jim Gavin’s current team broke onto the senior team on the back of strong performances in successful U21 campaigns and O’Callaghan looks set to follow suit.
He put up some big scores for the Dublin minor side that won the Leinster championship in 2014 and performed well when given the opportunity for the seniors earlier this year.
2. Neil Flynn (Kildare)
Flynn played a starring role in Kildare’s semi-final win, scoring 1-5. The Maynooth man was part of the Kildare minor side that fell to Roscommon in the All-Ireland quarter-finals in 2013, while he scored 0-11 when both these sides met in last year’s Leinster final.
Flynn will be the Kildare forward that’ll need watching the most and his accuracy from placed balls is key to his team’s hopes.
3. Colm Basquel (Dublin)
Fresh from scoring 1-1 in the All-Ireland club final win over Castlebar Mitchels, Basquel scored 1-3 just 48 hours later in Dublin’s Leinster U21 semi-final win over Laois.
Basquel has an electric turn of pace and while he was brought off the bench after 37 minutes in the semi-final, he’s likely to be a key figure from the start against Kildare.
The Ballyboden attacker has enjoyed a remarkably successful few months. As well as winning the Dublin, Leinster and All-Ireland club championships, he also lifted the Sigerson Cup with UCD in February.
4. Ben McCormack (Kildare)
McCormack joins Flynn and Chris Healy in a lethal Lilywhites full-forward line. The trio bagged 1-12 between them in the Leinster semi-final and McCormack top-scored from play with four points.
The Sarsfields youngster started for Kildare in the 2014 All-Ireland minor quarter-final defeat to Kerry.
5. Martin Cahalan (Dublin)
Cahalan scored two points in a marauding performance from wing-back against Laois in the semi-final.
The Cuala defender started at full-back for Dublin in their All-Ireland U21 semi-final defeat to Tipperary last year.
He was part of the UCD panel that won the Sigerson Cup and claimed a Leinster minor medal with Dublin in 2012.
Cahalan has license to get forward and has the ability to hurt Kildare on the flank.
6. Paschal Connell (Kildare)
Connell was part of the Kildare minor team that won the Leinster title in 2013 and he’s been a key presence for the Kildare U21s for the last couple of years.
The Athy midfielder was dominant around the middle alongside Luke Flynn in the semi-final but they’ll face an altogether more difficult battle for aerial control against the Dubs.
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cork needed the win more …limerick competed …both sides will be happy at this stage in the year .
Dont know where ye got the stat that limerick were looking to secure their 5th victory on the bounce over cork. Their last 2 meetings were draws
@domas1507: Getting bate after extra time doesn’t count no?
@Padraig McElligott: actually no. The game us officially recorded as a draw if its level at full time. The extra time is to decide who goes forward but the game is officially a draw
@domas1507: Limerick beat Cork on the day officially or otherwise. The last two meetings between the two sides before today – one draw and one Limerick victory. You don’t draw your way into an All Ireland Final.
@Padraig McElligott: we all know ye won so congratulations again and again and again
@Padraig McElligott: So they weren’t going for their 5th victory on the bounce. Thanks for clearing that up.
Should have been thr result in last year’s semi-final…
@Forfar So Good: Hmmm juicy lemons….
@Colm O’Sullivan: Thought i might get someone to bite:-)
@Forfar So Good: aaaaw
Cork deserved the win. They have found a centre back in Tim O’Mahony. He was my man of the match. Limerick could never get into their stride like in previous weeks, and when they did they gifted Cork their second goal. The two new boys, Dooley for Cork and O’Brien for Limerick both performed well. It’s the kickstart that Cork needed and a kick up the backside that Limerick will eventually welcome.
@Colm O’Sullivan: thats probably the best thing said about the game. Fair play
Unbelievable win for Cork against the greatest team to ever play the game and shoe ins for the all Ireland.
Hopefully results like this will help the game develop in developing hurling counties like Cork etc
@damien o brien: :-))))))
@damien o brien: lol
@damien o brien: such unwarranted bitterness and condescension. Well done Cork the better team won today.
There will be absolutely nothing in it if these teams were to meet in the championship.
Will do Limerick no harm at all to taste defeat
@Alan Fitzgerald: Ah jaysus Alan go out and get a bit of air I’d say..
That limerick fella isn’t saying much now!!!!
Great win for Cork, who could have had a few more goals. Held on when it looked for all the money Limerick were going to go through them.
That’s a great result for Cork, winning away to the All-Ireland champions.
Sluggish display from Limerick, did well to draw it back level but missed chances proved costly in the end.
On to Ennis next week now.
So we have a championship after all !! This time last week they were handing Liam to Limerick ….
@David O’Neill: Not really. Prior to Limerick beating Kilkenny and to a lesser degree Tipp, the media have spent pre season telling everyone how Limerick will struggle to get out of Munster let alone mount a title challenge again. Only when they beat Kilkenny did the media have to eat their words and back peddle somewhat to give this team some credit. Any Limerick fan will tell you that they’ll treat every game in Munster and on like a cup final, however we’re tired of being brandished nothing more than a team that “gives 100% commitment”, though plenty of that it’s high time they recognise the skill levels of our hurlers.
@No: Limerick are a serious team and as you say Munster is a minefield but how these journalists make predictions like that in February is beyond me !!! What i will say is 6 or 7 teams will feel they can win it this year !!
@No: You’re a bit over the top there. Nobody is brandishing Limerick like you say. Everyone recognises their skill levels. But they’re starting with a clean slate this year. They’ve a 60% chance of coming out of Munster. No more nor no less than the other 4 counties.
Should’ve been a draw. I don’t begrudge cork there win . But the ref gave limerick a free in 5 from the end …. he hadn’t seen the hand pass to Cian Lynch who was thundering down on the goals with only the keeper to beat ….and he knows he made a mistake (an should have played the advantage) because he wrapped both hands around his head!!
Big scalp for Cork hurlers today.
@Anyone But Cork: actually was cheers. Considering the last few results. Thanks for your support. ; )
Martin Brennan won’t know what to do with himself now tonight with that win!!
Cork needed that big time and that defeat could well be a blessing in disguise for Limerick considering the way they have been built up in the last couple of weeks. Limerick have proved they can win an All-Ireland and will be there or thereabouts again this year. Hopefully Cork improve from last year but still think we are a couple of players short.