Tomorrow in Parnell Park will be a northside occasion. Two city clubs on the horizon of uncharted territory. Already their collective effort in chasing this championship has been dipped in urban legend; Na Fianna running laps in the pre-dawn gloom; the sporadic shouts from St Brigid's training pitch, occupied well before the daily traffic grind builds up on the main street through Blanchardstown.

These two clubs share a similar history; rich in lore though sparse in shining silverware; only twice ever has the Glasnevin community had cause to celebrate Na Fianna championship marches and even they are dimly remembered; 1979 was their last banner year - exactly 10 years after their first ever county final win. As for St Brigid's, they have never left an imprint on the Dublin championship honours scroll. There is a newness about this autumn affair, a novelty to the match-up.

"The funny thing about this year's competition is that it was probably the first time in years that the four best teams in Dublin actually made it to the semi-finals," offers Na Fianna manager Paul Caffrey.

"I know that after we were beaten in last years final (by Kilmacud Crokes) we approached this year's championship even more intensely. We felt we had the ability to make a run but all around us, other teams were making strides as well. That's why St Brigid's are here."

At parish level, club paths constantly interweave. Since last year's county final, Na Fianna have been focused on Kilmacud. But immediately after that loss, they had to line out for a league relegation clash against St Brigid's. With little stomach for football, they lost and a drop seemed inevitable. Then word filtered through that Kilmacud, their nemesis in the championship, had beaten Thomas Davis in a game across town. The result saved Na Fianna.

"Yeah, they did us a good turn that day. But once we re-grouped in January, our whole focus was on the championship. We set ourselves a fairly tight training regime and have stuck to it since."

Such is the worth of the club structure now that the effort put in by parish sides is comparable to the methods employed by county sides. Na Fianna and St Brigid's both pushed the boundaries with their early morning weekday starts but according to Caffrey, the city football scene has traditionally placed a premium on fit primed teams.

"Perhaps it's true to say that the more skilful footballer doesn't always get a chance to shine. Teams here tend to be very pacy, full of good athletes and very strong defensively. When I was down in Kerry in the summer and went to see the Gaeltacht training and the approach is different there, with a lot of talented players able to show their worth. Here, games are generally tight and sometimes tense occasions."

Same as it ever was. Back in 1984, Caffrey played on the Na Fianna side that lost that year's county final (to St Vincent's) and occasionally, he idles over the breaks of that game with contemporaries. The defeat still rankles. But the same close-marking, fast-paced style dominated then as well.

For St Brigid's Declan Darcy has been in blistering form along with Jason Ward and Ian Foley. Throw in Armagh stars Kieran McGeeney and Des Mackin, both signed with Na Fianna, and suddenly, the match programme starts to glitter.

"Yeah, it should be a tremendous occasion," agrees Caffrey.

"I mean, people have been saying that St Brigid's defence hasn't been going great and that they only came through their semi-final (against Ballyboden St Enda's) by a point but the thing is, they are going to click sooner or later and when they do, they'll cause a lot of damage. They are a good young club and Kevin Kilmurray has done a terrific job with them. We have it all to do again."

This time, though, there is a sense of expectation behind Na Fianna's presence.