Preview: FL1 final - Dublin v Tyrone

April 27, 2013

Dublin's Paul Flynn and Ciaran McGinley of Tyrone. INPHO
Dublin have set the pace throughout the Allianz FL Division 1 campaign but Tyrone will be aiming to pip them at the post for the silverware at Croke Park on Sunday.

Tyrone inflicted a first defeat on the Dubs in round 5 but, truth be told, the men from the capital had begun to ease their foot off the pedal by that stage and 2010 Footballer of the Year Bernard Brogan was a notable absentee.

Yet, Dublin and Croke Park will hold no fears for Mickey Harte and his team who will relish the challenge of bursting the bubble that has currently enveloped the capital's senior football team.

Joe McMahon is back for the Red Hand County after missing the semi-final win over Kildare with an ankle injury while Ronan O'Neill is also available from the bench after recovering from a hamstring complaint.

On the negative side, Peter Harte is ruled out by the hamstring injury that brought his participation against the Lilywhites to a premature end.

Dublin are the envy of most other counties with the talent at Jim Gavin's disposal and his options have been increased after James McCarthy, Rory O'Carroll and Kevin Nolan featured in a challenge game against Galway last weekend

The emergence of Paul Mannion has a forward of true quality has added extra potency to a well-oiled forward division.

Midfield remains the last piece of the jigsaw that Gavin has to try to solve. The Cavanagh brothers, Sean and Colm, will pose plenty of questions of Dublin in that area.

The Ulster SFC quarter-final against Donegal tops Tyrone's list of priorities at this point in time and you get the impression that they won't be overly disappointed if they finished on the wrong end of the scoreline this weekend.

On the other hand, it will be considered something of a let-down if Dublin fail to finish off the job and win a first Division 1 title since 1993.

Verdict: Dublin

Dublin - S Cluxton, K O'Brien, J Cooper, D Daly; J McCarthy, G Brennan, J McCaffrey; M D MacAuley, C O'Sullivan; P Flynn, D Connolly, B Cullen; P Mannion, P Andrews, B Brogan.

Tyrone - N Morgan, PJ Quinn, C Clarke, C McCarron, C Gormley, D Carlin, Justin McMahon, C Cavanagh, S Cavanagh, Mattie Donnelly, Mark Donnelly, Joe McMahon, M Penrose, S O'Neill, P McNeice.

Odds: Dublin 4/11, Draw 9/1, Tyrone 5/2

Match Details: Croke Park, 4pm Sunday 28 April

Paths to the final

Dublin

Round 1: Dublin 1-18, Cork 2-9
Round 2: Kerry 0-4, Dublin 1-11
Round 3: Dublin 2-14, Mayo 0-16
Round 4: Kildare 2-7, Dublin 2-20
Round 5: Dublin 1-14, Tyrone 0-18
Round 6: Dublin 1-15, Down 0-9
Round 7: Donegal 1-10, Dublin 0-13
Semi-final: Dublin 2-16, Mayo 16

Tyrone

Round 1: Down 1-8, Tyrone 1-11
Round 2: Mayo 1-11, Tyrone 1-12
Round 3: Tyrone 1-13, Donegal 0-12
Round 4: Tyrone 0-8, Cork 0-14
Round 5: Dublin 1-14, Tyrone 0-18
Round 6: Kildare 0-10, Tyrone 1-13
Round 7: Tyrone 2-12, Kerry 1-16
Semi-final: Tyrone 2-15, Kildare 2-11

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