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Preview: Leinster SFC - Dublin v Westmeath

Ciaran Kilkenny, Dublin, in possession during the 2016 Leinster SFC Final.

Ciaran Kilkenny, Dublin, in possession during the 2016 Leinster SFC Final.

Sunday June 25

Leinster SFC Semi-Final

Dublin v Westmeath, Croke Park, 4pm

Dominant in Leinster, Dublin are bidding to reach a seventh successive provincial final. Westmeath, though, were beaten in the last two deciders.

Moral victories don’t really interest the midlanders or manager Tom Cribbin, but during the 2015 and 2016 Championships Westmeath impressed.

Louth, Wexford, Meath, Kildare, Offaly were amongst the teams defeated by Westmeath, who enjoyed productive campaigns.

The fact that those five wins were registered confirms the potential that exists within Westmeath with Paul Sharry, Ger Egan, Kieran Martin, and talisman John Heslin firmly established inter-county performers.

Dublin, though, have been operating at the highest level for the past half dozen years with silverware repeatedly being delivered.

Amazingly Dublin have won 36 of their last 38 matches in Leinster since 2005, a record proving their class and consistency.

Westmeath initially frustrated Dublin in the opening periods of their recent provincial showpieces, but the victors still comfortably prevailed on each occasion.

“This year, we have to travel up to Croke Park with something different,” Westmeath manager Tom Cribbin admits. “There's no use saying I want a good performance from the players on Sunday. That won't cut it.

“We have to come to Croke Park with a gameplan that will be effective in halting the Dublin juggernaut. We have to be at our best to beat Dublin and, armed with an effective gameplan in hand, to give us the best possible chance.”

Carlow were competitive before Dublin finished strongly at the Leinster SFC Quarter-Final stage.

It was another encounter in which Dublin had to be patient when probing for opportunities with Bernard Brogan acknowledging how the game has changed with opposition teams setting up with defensive systems. “Yeah, the role of the full-forward has changed a lot in the last two or three years,” Brogan says. “The days when I started where it was man-on-man; you'd kick the ball in and I'd take you on and we'll see who comes out on top -- those days are gone.

“There is no space in there. Every time you get a ball, if you beat one man another man comes at you and another man. So you have to break the gainline, you have to change the angle of your runs, you have your cuts through the middle.

“There are so many different aspects of the game now. To try and get that space for a shot you have to be able to get your shot off really quickly, but the whole style of the full-forward line has changed now. 

All sports evolve, everything changes so it's a new challenge, but it's enjoyable.”

Diarmuid Connolly's suspension is a blow for Dublin meaning Jim Gavin may afford emerging talents such as Conor McHugh and Con O'Callaghan another opportunity in attack.

Westmeath, who overcame Offaly following a replay, bring a pacy and developing team to GAA headquarters. Gavin’s charges, though, will want to make a favourable Croke Park impression too.

DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Michael Fitzsimons, Jonny Cooper, Eric Lowndes; Niall Scully, Cian O'Sullivan, Jack McCaffrey; Brian Fenton, James McCarthy; Ciaran Kilkenny, Paddy Andrews, Paul Mannion; Kevin McManamon, Con O'Callaghan, Dean Rock.  

WESTMEATH: Darren Quinn; Jamie Gonoud, Kevin Maguire, Killian Daly; Mark McCallon, Frank Boyle, James Dolan; Alan Stone, Ger Egan; Callum McCormack, Paul Sharry, Kieran Martin; Tommy McDaniel, John Heslin, Denis Glennon.