Final Four: Lilywhites looking to bloom

Ahead of their Cadbury GAA Football All-Ireland U21 semi-final clash with Galway on Saturday, GAA.ie puts Leinster champions Kildare under the microscope.

Kildare face the Tribesmen at O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Saturday at 2pm. The game is followed by the second semi-final, between Cavan and Cork, which has a 3.45pm throw-in at the same venue.

Path to the semi-final?

Leinster ChampionshipQuarter-Final: Kildare 2-15 Meath 1-9Semi-Final: Kildare 3-22 Laois 0-7Final: Kildare 1-12 Laois 0-7

Of the four teams left in the competition, Kildare have probably made the smoothest progress to the All-Ireland semi-finals. Kieran McGeeney's charges opened their provincial campaign at the start of March with a nine-point win over Meath in Navan. Trailing by 0-6 to 0-2 early on, the Lilywhites hit back with a goal from Niall Kelly to draw level at the break. It was in the second half, though, that they gave the first real indications of just how powerful a force they would become. Pádraig Fogarty hit their second goal midway through the half and they outscored the Royals by 0-7 to 0-2 in the closing stages to close out an impressive win.

It was after their 24-point semi-final win over Laois that people really began to take notice. Physically, Kildare were in a different league, with Seán Hurley, captain Tommy Moolick and Paul Cribbin (0-4) dominating the game. They moved six points clear at the break before showing a real ruthless streak in the second half. A burst of 2-6 without reply in the third killed off the O'Moore County challenge, Fergal Conway and Daniel Flynn finding the net in that spell. Hugh Mahon added a third in the 50th minute to complete the rout.

Against a Longford team that had beaten them in the Minor championship three years earlier, and had knocked reigning champions Dublin out at the quarter-final stage, Kildare came through their sternest test of the campaign. They led by 0-9 to 0-5 at the break and moved clear when Hurley was fouled and Paddy Brophy found the net from the penalty spot. Despite only scoring one point in the closing 25 minutes, Kildare held on to claim a 10th Leinster title in the grade.

Strengths?

Kildare are an exceptionally strong and powerful team, who have managed to steamroll all comers in the Leinster Championship. Physically, their semi-final win over Laois was a massive mismatch, with the strong-running Hurley steaming forward at will from midfield and wing-back Cribbin, another exceptional athlete, causing mayhem with his marauding runs from deep.

Cribbin, Paddy Brophy, Niall Kelly and Daniel Flynn have all made the seamless step-up to senior inter-county duty in the Allianz League this spring, proving they are not lacking in terms of football ability or the physical attributes required to make the top grade. At U21 level, where players tend not to be as developed, they have a huge advantage over their opponents.

While Kelly, Flynn and Cribbin would be real stars in any other U21 side, this Kildare side is very much a team shaped in the mould of their manager, Armagh legend Kieran McGeeney. Five of their players have scored at least 0-6 in the three games to date. They have a better scoring spread and are less reliant on individuals than any of the other three teams left. Brophy and Pádraig Fogarty are their top scorers with totals of 1-8, quite unremarkable when you consider the team has hit 6-39 overall.

Players to Watch?

Take your pick...Paul Cribbin, however, is a real one to watch. The red-headed Johnstownbridge clubman played in the Allianz League semi-final against Tyrone in Croke Park last weekend and looked like he was made for the big stage. He was the great white hope of Kildare football before spending two years playing in the AFL with Collingwood. Cribbin has already made an impact with the U21s since his return and will undoubtedly play a big part in the future of Kildare football.

Still just 19, Niall Kelly is another obvious candidate. A wing-forward of rare class, the youngster has a real eye for a score and is more than willing to pitch in with the dirty work required in the role. Made a huge impact on his senior debut for Kildare, hitting four lovely points from play in the Allianz League against All-Ireland champions Donegal.

Daniel Flynn, who made his name on the St Mary's team that won the All-Ireland Colleges title last year, is another to look out for while last year's minor captain Paddy Brophy also stands out in a gifted bunch.

On the Sideline?

Kieran McGeeney has had a huge impact since taking over as U21 manager this year, combining his duties with those as the county's senior manager. For anyone who needs reminding, the Mullaghbawn man captained Armagh to the All-Ireland title in 2002 and has been the Lilywyhites' senior manager since 2008.

Former Laois and Offaly senior manager Tom Cribbin, who is an uncle of wing-forward Paul Cribbin, is a selector along with Syl Merrins and Trevor O'Sullivan. Former Minister for Finance and European Commissioner Charlie McCreevey is a team mentor.

Track Record?

Kildare's one and only All-Ireland U21 title came way back in 1965. More recently, they contested an All-Ireland final in 2008, but lost by 2-12 to 0-11 to Kerry. For a county that has won 10 Leinster U21 titles, they have failed to convert provincial success to the All-Ireland stage, winning just four semi-finals of the 10 they have contested.

This year's Leinster title was their first since 2008, while the minor team from three years ago that produced most of this crop lost to Longford in the Leinster semi-final.