Andrews feels win was significant

Gaelic Games Championship 2006 news: For many people judgment on Dublin's credentials will have to wait until they reach the All-Ireland series.

Having put to the sword Laois, the county rated as joint-favourites with them to win Leinster, the defending champions are now short odds to beat the winners of next Sunday's Offaly-Wexford semi-final but given the province's unimpressive record against the top teams in recent years, there'll be no jumping to conclusions just yet.

Ironically despite Leinster's lowly status in terms of the All-Ireland football championship, the province won last year's Railway Cup interprovincial title.

Experienced Dublin coach and broadcast pundit Val Andrews managed that team and was an interested observer at Sunday's big match in Croke Park.

While going along with the general theory that the wheels came off for Laois when they lost midfielder Pádraig Clancy to injury in the 25th minute, Andrews believes that Dublin are an improved team on last year.

"The two key moments were one, that Clancy missed that chance in the eighth minute or so and two, when he went off their midfield collapsed. Dublin hit a high ball in on top of two Laois defenders and Jason Sherlock, the ball bounces and then it's a goal."

Given that it was so difficult to separate the teams in last year's Leinster final Laois's disintegration was a surprise, particularly as it was the last season for Mick O'Dwyer, the veteran Kerry football coach, in charge of the county he led to a first provincial title since 1946 just three years ago.

According to Andrews the problems of a damaged centrefield were compounded by the failure of the forwards to make anything like a serious impression. "Laois were very disappointing. Up front Donie Brennan was well held by Paul Griffin and their entire half forward line was taken off before the end."

The win was significant for Dublin because they had been so lucky to survive a trip to Longford in the first round and manager Paul Caffrey had made a number of changes, including switching Bryan Cullen from the forwards back to his best position of defensive pivot and recalling Kilmacud Crokes forward Ray Cosgrove, an All Star in 2002 but whose career has stalled over the past three years.

"I'm a big fan of Bryan Cullen at centre back," says Andrews. "He leads well from that position and captained the under-21s to an All-Ireland. He was a one or two-point forward and to be honest he'd be capable of getting that from defence. He will be important there because he'll be able to direct the traffic from back there.

"The big imponderable was Ray Cosgrove who hadn't played since 2003 but he had been playing very well in training and has shown great club form. He's always been a good footballer but also a confidence player. He kicked a difficult early score on Sunday, got a goal and was basically playing to his club form. He's a huge asset in that form.

"He's also a goalscorer. He got six in 2002 and that's a big total for a championship season, up there with the likes of Colm Cooper and (Pádraic) Joyce. A goal isn't worth three points to Dublin. It's a mythical thing that gets the whole crowd going and fires up the team."

Andrews was impressed with the team overall and pinpoints the performance of the forwards as being most indicative of that progress. "They have improved. Sunday would indicate that but it would also indicate that Laois have gone back. Dublin's movement was better and their shape was better. The forwards interchanged very well and that unsettled the Laois backs. Conal Keaney gives a great focus to the attack and he's in good form as well."

The big question for Dublin will be how much closer they are to the All-Ireland standard. Andrews believes that with Leinster a back marker, there is a need for whoever represents the province to be substantially ahead of the going rate in the province if they are to change that recent trend.

"How many Division One teams are there in Leinster now? That shows you the long-term trend. Only four. Dublin, Kildare, Laois and Louth. There's a big gap there between Dublin and the rest and there needs to be if Dublin are going to make an impact in the All-Ireland."