RATHER THAN ANALYSING whether Meath are capable of beating Dublin in the Leinster SFC semi-final, it’s probably more pertinent to discuss whether Meath can keep the beating below double digits.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Dublin continue to beat the rest of Leinster to a pulp, and they’re chasing a tenth straight victory of 10 points or more in the province. As defeatist as it sounds, it would be a decent result if Meath managed to keep the margin of defeat under 10 points.
Dublin ruthlessly put away Laois by 2-21 to 2-10 in the quarter-final, even though the Midlanders held Bernard Brogan and Paul Mannion scoreless. But what does that matter when Dean Rock, Diarmuid Connolly and Ciaran Kilkenny score 2-18 between them?
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Tommy Dickson / INPHO
Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO
Will Meath target Dublin’s full-back line?
One of the more interesting topics of discussion to emerge from Dublin’s facile quarter-final win over Laois, was their concession of two goals. As good as Dublin looked in Nowlan Park, we saw a slight vulnerability to high balls into the full-back line.
It might take a better team than Meath to punish a lack of height on the edge of Dublin’s D, but if they’re to make this game competitive then that’s an area they must target the weakest link in Dublin’s chain. Whether Meath possess the personnel to do so is another matter entirely.
Cian O’Neill’s term in charge of Kildare has been relatively trouble free since his arrival. But a less than impressive victory over Wexford in the quarter-final indicated they are are far from the finished article.
O’Neill deployed two sweepers against Wexford and they offered little in attack, scoring just two points in the second-half of a 0-9 to 0-8 win. A lengthy injury list features Paul Cribbin (knee), Kevin Feeley (shoulder) and Daniel Flynn (hamstring), but attacker Niall Kelly returns from injury.
The rather alarming statistic that Kildare haven’t contested a Leinster final in seven years must be rectified if progress under O’Neill is to continue.
Tom Beary / INPHO
Tom Beary / INPHO / INPHO
Westmeath’s bid for back-to-back Leinster titles
Despite suffering a third league relegation on the bounce, Westmeath are one game away from making history. Beat Kildare and they’ll feature in their second Leinster final in a row for the first time in the county’s history.
Tom Cribben’s outfit are revelling in the underdog role. With victory over Offaly under their belts, they’ll fancy their chances of causing another upset against Kildare. Championship is where it counts and making successive Leinster finals would be an excellent achievement.
Dublin seeking another double-digits win, Kildare's acid test — Leinster last four talking points
Can Dublin make it 10 in a row?
RATHER THAN ANALYSING whether Meath are capable of beating Dublin in the Leinster SFC semi-final, it’s probably more pertinent to discuss whether Meath can keep the beating below double digits.
Dublin continue to beat the rest of Leinster to a pulp, and they’re chasing a tenth straight victory of 10 points or more in the province. As defeatist as it sounds, it would be a decent result if Meath managed to keep the margin of defeat under 10 points.
Dublin ruthlessly put away Laois by 2-21 to 2-10 in the quarter-final, even though the Midlanders held Bernard Brogan and Paul Mannion scoreless. But what does that matter when Dean Rock, Diarmuid Connolly and Ciaran Kilkenny score 2-18 between them?
Will Meath target Dublin’s full-back line?
One of the more interesting topics of discussion to emerge from Dublin’s facile quarter-final win over Laois, was their concession of two goals. As good as Dublin looked in Nowlan Park, we saw a slight vulnerability to high balls into the full-back line.
It might take a better team than Meath to punish a lack of height on the edge of Dublin’s D, but if they’re to make this game competitive then that’s an area they must target the weakest link in Dublin’s chain. Whether Meath possess the personnel to do so is another matter entirely.
Kildare’s acid test
Cian O’Neill’s term in charge of Kildare has been relatively trouble free since his arrival. But a less than impressive victory over Wexford in the quarter-final indicated they are are far from the finished article.
O’Neill deployed two sweepers against Wexford and they offered little in attack, scoring just two points in the second-half of a 0-9 to 0-8 win. A lengthy injury list features Paul Cribbin (knee), Kevin Feeley (shoulder) and Daniel Flynn (hamstring), but attacker Niall Kelly returns from injury.
The rather alarming statistic that Kildare haven’t contested a Leinster final in seven years must be rectified if progress under O’Neill is to continue.
Westmeath’s bid for back-to-back Leinster titles
Despite suffering a third league relegation on the bounce, Westmeath are one game away from making history. Beat Kildare and they’ll feature in their second Leinster final in a row for the first time in the county’s history.
Tom Cribben’s outfit are revelling in the underdog role. With victory over Offaly under their belts, they’ll fancy their chances of causing another upset against Kildare. Championship is where it counts and making successive Leinster finals would be an excellent achievement.
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