Dublin can exploit defensive gaps

Leinster SFC Semi-finals/Previews: Inspired by the big crowd and the excitement of the match, there may have been a tendency to exaggerate the qualities of Dublin's victory over Meath, but it was a settled performance from a team that had enjoyed just one win in four championship games immediately before this season.

Similarly Wexford, also under big pressure going into their match with Carlow, must have been happy with the way they coped after their 14-man opponents roared back at them to level the match in the final quarter. But there will also be concerns about those areas of the field where the team struggled.

The defence was opened up far too easily when their opponents hit back for the goals that made a match of what had looked like a foregone conclusion, and they were starkly second-best at centrefield, where the Walsh brothers drove the Carlow recovery.

Dublin's performance against Meath wasn't perfect, but they looked capable of exploiting such weaknesses if they're not remedied. Wexford stick with Nicky Lambert and David Fogarty at centrefield, an area where they have been inconsistent even during a good league run.

But Diarmuid Kinsella is back and he will give some back-up to his centrefield colleagues.

Kieran Kennedy also comes in for Darragh Breen at wing back, and the change leaves the half-back line quite inexperienced, with only David Murphy a regular before this season's championship. All of which represents a risk given Alan Brogan's coruscating form against Meath.

Manager Paul Caffrey didn't make all the changes expected of him, but the selection of Mark Vaughan had been anticipated after the Kilmacud forward's cool dispatch of the late frees against Meath. Tomás Quinn was hardly going to be relegated after one bad day, coming on the back of a consistent league, but his dead-ball kicking will be watched.

Still, the demoted Jason Sherlock can feel hard done by. He did seem occasionally on a different wavelength - a couple of his off-loads were too slick and got intercepted - but he also made some good runs that weren't picked out. But, ironically, Caffrey values the unpredictability of Vaughan and feels he has earned his start.

Ciarán Whelan was the recipient of the biggest slab of good fortune he can expect in his intercounty career and went on to give a great display. As during his best season in 2002, he observed the centrefield parameters, won a lot of ball and used it well.

Dublin's defence was effective, with great performances by the corner backs and centre back Barry Cahill.

There may be reservations about how effectively Paul Griffin or Stephen O'Shaughnessy can mark Matty Forde, particularly given his height, and although O'Shaughnessy coped well with Joe Sheridan there's talk of Paddy Christie moving on to the Wexford danger man.

A less advanced Wexford team gave them an awful fright three years ago but Dublin deserve to be favourites.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P Griffin, P Christie, S O'Shaughnessy; P Casey, B Cahill, C Goggins; C Whelan, S Ryan; C Moran, A Brogan, B Cullen; M Vaughan, C Keaney, T Quinn.

WEXFORD: J Cooper; C Morris, P Wallace, N Murphy; P Curtis, D Murphy, K Kennedy; N Lambert, D Fogarty; R Barry, D Kinsella, S Cullen; PJ Banville, P Colfer, M Forde.

Referee: B Crowe (Cavan).