Dublin should have edge

LEINSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL Dublin v Meath: Tomorrow, throw-in – 4pm Croke Park, Dublin Live on RTÉ 2

THIS IS a very significant fixture in the GAA Leinster football championship.

In days gone by, the two counties maintained each other’s standards and it is striking that since Meath’s decline in recent years, Dublin have not been able to turn the effectively uncontested province into anything resembling an adequate platform for an All-Ireland challenge.

It is surely significant that when two years ago the counties had to go to a replay, the intensity of the competition proved a springboard for Dublin to run eventual AllIreland winners Kerry to two points in the semi-final and Meath to reach the last four for the first time in six years.

The challengers’ conspicuous failure to build on that encouraging season is at the heart of what should be a great opportunity for Meath to reverse the trend of Dublin success.

Dublin should be vulnerable because they are in transition under new management. Pat Gilroy and his selectors have spent the league trying to regenerate the team and devise new systems of play, including a zonal defence which is a system that doesn’t bed down easily.

There is obviously a conscious decision to try and begin the process of rejuvenation with a number of familiar faces on the bench.

Some problems remain. The full-back line, although it contains two rookies, still, exhibits the familiar lack of speciality. Not alone are none of the unit specialists on the inside line, they don’t even play in the backs all the time with their clubs.

Denis Bastic is the latest centrefielder-into-full back project and although he has had plenty of game time in the league this is still a big step up.

The switch of Paul Griffin to his best line makes sense and he will probably line up on Stephen Bray.

Meath have their own issues and are unlikely to line out as selected.

Anthony Moyles, for instance, as versatile a player as he is, hardly looks the ideal marker for Alan Brogan’s pace. But they have a seasoned centrefield and good forwards and the place kicking of Cian Ward.

The fact remains, however, that Dublin, despite the uncertainty, have had the experience of a season in Division One, which they managed to survive while Meath were treading water a division below.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Henry, D Bastic, M Hubbard; P Griffin, G Brennan, B Cahill; R McConnell, D Magee; P Flynn, P Andrews, B Brogan; C Keaney, M Davoren, A Brogan.

MEATH: P O'Rourke; P O'Rourke; A Moyles, K Reilly, E Harrington; S Kenny, N McKeigue, C McGuinness; M Ward, N Crawford; S McAnarney, S Bray, B Meade; C Ward, C King, B Farrell.

Referee: M Duffy(Sligo).

In the last episode: This is the counties' 23rd match in 27 seasons. They last met two years ago when Dublin won after a replay. It is now eight years since Meath last won this fixture.

You bet: For all the uncertainty in Dublin the team are a well fancied 4/9 with Meath 12/5 and the draw available at 15/2.

On your marks: Dublin take a major plunge by completely replacing their centrefield and leaving Ciarán Whelan and Shane Ryan on the bench. Whelan's dynamism and Ryan's intelligent movement for Stephen Cluxton's kick-outs have been at the heart of the team's dominance in the area.

Darren Magee gets the nod but two years ago he started with Whelan and tomorrow’s Meath pairing of Nigel Crawford and Mark Ward did well.

Gaining ground: The season's first big event in Croke Park.

Just the ticket: Tickets will be on sale today from 11am to 4pm at the GAA ticket office, 53 Lower Dorset St and tomorrow at ticket outlets near the ground if stocks last. Croke Park are forecasting an attendance of over 70,000. Stand tickets are €25, terrace €15 and juveniles €5 although very few of those remain. All the above is subject to availability.

Crystal gazing: Meath are perennially capable of troubling Dublin and the champions are an experimental side. But there has been little in the team's recent form to suggest that they can dethrone their opponents.