Tomorrow's final has all the ingredients of a classic. Dublin have a chance to show that their form when they blew Laois out of the water in the semi-final better represents their talents than the lacklustre effort against Longford in the quarter-final.

In hindsight it's clear the Longford match helped identify changes and redefine the team in a way that wouldn't have happened if they'd won pulling up, and they could have ended up learning the lessons against Laois.

Instead Bryan Cullen was brought to centre back and there was a change in the full-back line.

Consistency has been a problem for the Dubs over the years, and if they are to become true contenders for the big prize there can be no slippage tomorrow.

I believe Dublin have improved as a team. Conal Keaney has matured from a talented player into a leader. Against Longford he took responsibility when others were losing their heads.

Cullen had been doing well in the forwards but having seen him play at centre back for the under-21s, I think Paul Caffrey was right to select him there. From the start against Laois he got the blocks and the hits in and laid down a marker.

Another area of improvement is Stephen Cluxton's kick-outs, which have placed the ball well all year, while his opposite number Pádraig Kelly tends to go for distance.

There's obviously been work done there and if a team is going to progress, it's small things that make a difference. Good distribution doesn't just happen; it requires tactical fine-tuning.

To win titles you need physical strength, pace, high work-rate and telepathic teamwork. I was interested to see a Dublin player comment that they had stayed with the gym work all year - because they do seem to have a stronger physical edge. But the biggest improvement for Dublin in the semi-final came with teamwork and industry.

Paul Caffrey and his management team made some brave decisions in the lead-up to that game. Cullen was restored to his best position, centre back, and Ray Cosgrove and Jason Sherlock were started in an attack that played like it had been together for years.

Cosgrove in particular played with the confidence of a few years ago, and with Keaney maturing into a top-class ball winner and finisher, the Offaly defence will be stretched tomorrow.

Of course, the amount of pressure on the Offaly defence will be determined by who wins the midfield battle.

Ciarán Whelan and Shane Ryan have had their critics with regard to fading out of games. Ciarán McManus had a quieter game than usual against Wexford but always thrives on the big stage, and Alan McNamee links brilliantly with his forward colleagues.

Overall I feel McManus has developed his game. He's been criticised for being too individual. This year he's been more of a team player and his vision has improved. He's not making the same individual runs.

Having been around in 1997 and 1998, he also epitomises the Offaly desire to start winning again.

I spoke to some Offaly County Board officials a couple of years ago, and they were excited by a few talented young forwards that were coming on the scene.

Their predictions have proved spot on, with Niall McNamee and Thomas Deehan in particular staking early claims for the "young player of the year" accolade.

They have been in devastating form since the championship began and their mutual understanding and lay-offs to each other, and elsewhere, have been uncanny. Their teamwork in the Wexford game was a joy to behold.

Of course all of this will not be lost on Dublin, who will attempt to cut off the supply as well as the space around the Offaly full-forward line. With Deehan having scored 2-7 and McNamee 2-12 in the three games so far, Dublin's defensive task is more focused.

One of the reasons I would be going for a Dublin victory tomorrow is that the scoring threat in their attack is far more widespread than in Offaly's, with Keaney, Cosgrove, Alan Brogan, and Tomás Quinn all capable of unlocking opposing defences.

Offaly have shown a lot of progress this year in the championship, when you consider they were relegated from Division One of the league and were knocked out by Carlow in the qualifiers last year.

Kevin Kilmurray and his management team have developed the side into genuine Leinster contenders with a high work ethic as well as an exciting, adventurous approach, but the task of overturning the Leinster champions before a full house in Croke Park tomorrow may have come a year too soon.

Dublin are farther advanced in the maturing process with this team than Offaly, and even if things go wrong for them they have a strong bench, with Collie Moran, Darren Magee, and Paddy Christie all ready to enter the fray.

They should win with a few points to spare and let us all know if they have entered the elite club of teams with realistic hopes of capturing Sam Maguire.

Tyrone departed the top table last weekend. Perhaps Dublin can take their place tomorrow.