Club football championship: Ian O'Riordan finds the Kildare champions adopting a low-profile prior to the Leinster final

Like an artist discovered after their time, Sarsfields have suddenly found a heightened interest in their work. And true to the tendency of any new celebrity, they've worked hard to become well known but now prefer to wear dark glasses to avoid being recognised.

On Sunday they play Kilmacud Crokes in the Leinster club football final, although so far it seems only one club has been in vogue.

While Sarsfields have come through the less glamorous side of the draw, beating the Carlow and Louth champions, Kilmacud's more swashbuckling route included a demolition of the Meath champions, and then a double showdown with Offaly champions Rhode.

So Sarfields, who last month collected a record 21st Kildare county title, can afford to question the sudden increase in appreciation of their efforts.

Where were the plaudits when they produced a late equaliser in the county final, then lifted themselves superbly for the replay? Why wasn't anyone asking them how it felt to beat both Eire Óg and Mattock Rangers so convincingly?

"It's funny that there's suddenly been an awful lot of interest in us this week," explains Sarsfields secretary, Brian Dempsey. "We've managed to keep a very low profile all year, so we figured we'll just keep it that way.

"It's not like there's a media ban or anything like that, but we just decided we wouldn't change it now and start talking about this or that. I suppose it's worked for us as well, and maybe been lucky for us, so the team and the management decided between them that they wouldn't start saying a whole lot at this stage."

Sarfields manager Seán O'Sullivan has his own reasons for avoiding a sudden presence in the spotlight. It's his first season in charge of the club's senior footballers, and it's just not in his nature to break into a big song and dance about making the provincial final. Like most managers he wants the players to get the credit, and it suits him too that they're doing all the talking on the playing field.

"It was very much a natural progression for Seán to take over this year," adds Dempsey. "He'd been involved at nearly every underage grade with the club, and the minors, but also the camogie and ladies football team.

"He's made a huge effort this year, focused everyone and really brought the panel together, and he's definitely one of the main reasons why the team is playing so well this year."

Sarfields last collected the county title in 2001, and when the success of the club's predecessors, Roseberry, is included, their 21 titles is unrivalled in Kildare. Yet they've never won the Leinster title. The closest they came was back in 1999, when then Dublin champions Na Fianna got the better of them (a game also played in Navan, incidentally).

In fact, Raheens remain the only Kildare club to capture the provincial crown, and that was back in 1981.

O'Sullivan has strong links with the previous successes of the club. He played on the winning county teams of 1982, 1986, and again in 1993-94. He played alongside some of the more senior members of the current team, such as David Earley, and has deepened the link between the players and management by bringing in Tony Gorman and Ed Donoghue, both members of the 2001 winning team, as his selectors.

According to Dempsey, the Newbridge club is approaching something of a peak for Sunday's game in Navan; "I think the team has been improving with every game. We've certainly been getting more forwards scoring, and I think Seán has improved their self-belief.

"We should also be at full strength for Sunday. Padraig Brennan came back last week from his UN duties in Liberia, although it remains to be seen whether or not he'll start. We have minor injury concerns over centre back Liam Sex and also Stuart McKenzie Smith, but hopefully they'll be able to play some role.

"Obviously Kilmacud are one of the strongest clubs around, and we're under no illusions about the challenge facing us. You're comparing our membership of about 500 to their membership of around 3,500.

"We've also been up there on several occasions with underage teams and they do have a wonderful set-up. We'll have to be at the top of our game on Sunday, and that's the way we're approaching it."

Sarsfields have already met Kilmacud in two challenge matches this season, and were beaten in both - not that such games ever count for much.

Brennan is just one potential match winner, proven by his late equaliser in the county final against St Laurence's and his tally of 0-6 in the replay.

Dermot Earley is still leading by example at midfield, while Morgan O'Sullivan and Ciaran Dempsey also present a potent threat. Although they haven't conceded a goal in the Leinster championship to date, the main question surrounding Sarsfields' hopes is whether or not their full back line can hold up against the likes of Kilmacud's Mark Vaughan and Ray Cosgrove.

Team captain Martin McIntyre has been holding the fullback fort impressively, and that could ultimately be where Sunday's game is won or lost.

The Munster club hurling final between Newtownshandrum of Cork and Ballygunner of Waterford will also be decided on Sunday (Thurles, 2.0) with the remaining provincial final, the Munster football decider between Nemo Rangers (Cork) and St Senan's Kilkee (Clare) fixed for Sunday week at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

Connacht champions Salthill Knocknacarra this Sunday travel to London to play British champions Tír Chonail Gaels in the All-Ireland quarter-final.