In-form Dubs square up to Derry in National League showdown

IN A repeat of last year’s Division 2 final, Dublin play Derry in the Division 1 final on Sunday in Croke Park at 4 pm.

After a patchy start to the league particularly in their first two games, Dublin are certainly now in a rich vein of form having secured convincing wins against Kerry, Derry, Galway and Tyrone.

Personnel wise Dublin are also in a very strong position.

A number of players who hereto fore may have been on the periphery have certainly put their hands up for a starting place.

Ballyboden St Enda’s Ross McGarry has been very consistent in his performances and could offer Ciarán Kilkenny some support as McGarry plays a role in the centre-forward position similar to what Kilkenny has played previously.

Thomas Davis’ Cian Murphy has also been a regular during the league and even ghosted forward in the second half against Tyrone to slide the ball underneath the onrushing goalkeeper for a well-taken goal.

Templeogue Synge Street’s Lorcan O’Dell, while being on the panel for the last number of years, has certainly come more to the fore of late and also registered 1-2 against Tyrone.

Others to show good form during the league include the aforementioned Kilkenny, Brian Fenton, Eoin Murchan, and the free-scoring Con O’Callaghan.

Also after the Tyrone game Dessie Farrell said that Stephen Cluxton, James McCarthy and Michael Fitzsimons have been training away and are available to be called upon.

The Dublin manager while pleased with the form his team have been showing will also be cautious about placing too much weight on aspects of these displays given the margin of victory in some of the games, particularly the Tyrone game.

Meanwhile Derry began the league very strongly and by-and-large have maintained that form.

In the sides’ meeting in Celtic Park at the beginning of the month Dublin came out on top.

However, the Ulster team fielded a team missing some of their first-choice players, most notably their star midfielder Conor Glass.

In the Division 2 final of 2023 Dublin, came from behind scoring a number of second-half goals to come out on top on a scoreline of 4-6 to 0-11.

On Sunday Derry will be keen to put in a good display and a league win would certainly give them momentum going into the Championship.

As a proven winner at the highest level their manager Mickey Harte will also be anxious to gain victory over the team from the capital in the league decider.

Interestingly the last time Derry won the All-Ireland, which was in 1993, Dublin won the Division One league final against Donegal.