It should be a decent game I think. I'd discount Sunday's game entirely as Westmeath were entirely compliant in their 31 point defeat so it isn't a true reflection of where Dublin are at imo.

Kildare seem to be on an upward curve and the way in which they just beat Meath up from pillar to post has got to have the confidence up going into the final. It may be a year too early for them, as in this time next year with a spring of Division One football behind they may be better equipped to beat Dublin, but I don't think it would be quite the shock of shocks were they to sneak a win. With Brophy, Feely, Flynn et al they have players to take Dublin on up front and get a decent score. It'll be how well their defence copes with Dublin that'll be key. Even in their humiliation of Meath there were a few times, particularly in the 1st half, where Meath had the run on them straight through the middle. Ultimately Meath lack the quality of player to finish those chances off but you'd have to expect Dublin to come away with a couple of goals if those situations are replicated in the Leinster Final.

How Kildare react to any period of Dublin dominance will be important also. You'd have to expect Dublin to have a purple patch for a given time. If the heads drop then the Lillies could be in trouble. However I don't think they'll fold like that and it could be an excellent game of ball.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13704 - 27/06/2017 08:22:48    2006137

dublin by 3/4 points.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 27/06/2017 08:23:31    2006138

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 27/06/2017 09:00:16    2006148

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 27/06/2017 09:33:17    2006161

No coach has the history that O'Neill has since 2009 with a number of teams. I think after the Leinster final he may start getting the credit he deserves.
Kildare unlike Meath are as fit as any team in the country and have pace all over the place. This will be a lot closer than most expect.

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 27/06/2017 10:50:40    2006195

Is expect this one to be completely different affair to the WM debacle. Kildare will certainly be a lot closer and I'd say it'll be still be all to play for after the hour.

catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 27/06/2017 11:00:20    2006201

Expecting a right good rattle to be honest, two young teams going toe to toe. Will be a big test i think.

Big dilema for Kildare will be how to set up, go defensive, bring men back or play open expansively like they have done.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 27/06/2017 11:08:02    2006209

To be honest I don't know enough about this Kildare team to have a true understanding of how these teams compare. But I expect the best/2nd best of Div 1to be have enough for any team from another division on a most days.

Marse (Dublin) - Posts: 217 - 27/06/2017 12:04:21    2006238

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 27/06/2017 12:21:53    2006244

Sorry Kildare...I dont see this being less than 8+ win for the Dubs.

seanfinn (Monaghan) - Posts: 360 - 27/06/2017 12:29:00    2006246

MesAmis is spot on. Dublin will take the chances that Meath couldn't if Kildare offer them up again. Stopping that happening & how Kildare react mentally after a spell where the Dubs are totally dominant will be the keys to whether we can make a game of it.
I really don't know what to think. I think we're the best team Dublin will have met in Leinster for a while (time will tell if i'm right) but in terms of the final result, that might not mean a lot. It'll be very bad for Leinster football, not just Kildare, if we take a bad beating. The final score doesn't matter as much as the way the game plays out. If we're 10 points down after 10 minutes & the Dubs coast to a 15 point or so win (as happened the last time we played them) that would be hard to take. If we make a good fist of it until the last 15 mins & then they run away with it at the end, I could live with that to be honest...

KildareKelly (Kildare) - Posts: 593 - 27/06/2017 12:44:11    2006253

Kildare will not in anyway go toe to toe with Dublin

They'll have to adapt to playing quite defensive which wont suit them but they'll have no other choice

O'Neill is smart

His time with Kerry will be telling as to the tactics Kildare will deploy

But this is a massive step up for Kildare who haven't even been in a final for a fair while now

I expect a Dublin win but Kildare will be setup as best they can be and I have no doubt that it will create plenty of trouble for Dublin.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 27/06/2017 13:06:12    2006262

Too many permutations to answer the margin question , I said before the Meath Kildare game I thought the Lillywhites would win equally it was the result I wanted as they pose a bigger threat than Meath , what we don't know is how Kildare will line up which strategy they will adopt an even bigger question will be where that are between their ears for me Kildare are a team that can get very down on themselves that's not a good thing when facing the blues, they have some excellent high fielders but winning and losing of the game will be dirty ball in the midfield , for Kildare to have a chance they have to stay with DUBs for 50 mins then in sport anything can happen , for me Dubs win we are to good for Kildare as it stands now.

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 27/06/2017 13:18:08    2006275

I think Kildare's defence will leak goals and Kildare will struggle to get scores. 10 point win for the dubs!

Pharmstrong (Kildare) - Posts: 29 - 27/06/2017 13:28:54    2006282

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 27/06/2017 13:44:25    2006296

Ah come on now wayno in 2013 the game was level going into injury time and a couple of mistakes by a tired Kerry team which in fairness to ye ye took full advantage of and got a couple of goals one which was an attempt at a point but dropped in over keally.

2015 ye won 12 points to 9 and ye scored 4/5 points from play.
But fitzmaurice got his team badly wrong that day and only for killian young dropping a slippery ball in the last few mins we could easily have had a draw.

2016 we were were ahead all the way to the end and only for a couple of dodgy decisions by the reff we would have more than likely won.

The thing is this is the best Dub team ever according to ye dub fans but our Kerry team that's been in deep transition for years now can always put it up to ye.

And if Kildare can match ye'r Dubs athletically they can beat ye imo.
KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts:5344 - 27/06/2017 12:21:53

Love the revisionism.

In 2013 Kerry lost because Dublin outscored them heavily in the closing minutes. A match lasts 70+ minutes not just 68 minutes.

In 2015 Kerry maybe could have snuck a draw until a Kerry player dropped the ball. That's not bad luck it's lack of execution at a vital time. In the bad conditions Dublin's execution of the skills of the game was better than Kerry's.

In 2016 - again a match lasts 70+ minutes. You had one bad call go against you that might have salvaged you a draw. All the rest of the frees were spot on when looked at again. The two biggest calls were for very similar fouls. The hit on Crowley and the far more obvious hit on McMahon. Calls go both for and against teams. Obviously the narrative coming out of Kerry ignored the fact that there were pick ups off the ground and clear hands in the back for the frees given. Also ignoring the marginal calls Kerry got on the day.

This is the best Dublin team I've seen and this is a good Kerry side, possibly will become a great one in time. Just because the great Kerry side of the 00s struggled to beat the worst Dublin team in generations in 2007 winning by 2 points doesn't deflect from their greatness. Nor their struggles against the likes of Antrim, Sligo and few losses against Cork.

Kerry have lost to Dublin when they haven't been able to match Dublin's athleticism and footballing skills. Same goes the other way around.

If Kildare can match Dublin's athleticism they'll be half way there to winning the game but will still have a long way to go.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13704 - 27/06/2017 13:49:49    2006297

Dublin to win by 7 to 10points..there a good side kildare, great fans.but beating dublin .no chance.expect kildare will go more defensive here than they have all year.especially after o neill watching the demolition job last sunday.there good to watch kildare when they play traditionally'but when they set up defensive' handpassing ftom side to side its rubbish.would love to see them have a go but after dublins huge win that idea is surely a no-go now.should be a decent game though bit of banter with the lillywhites is always good craic aswell.

GGdub (Dublin) - Posts: 260 - 27/06/2017 18:51:15    2006455

Royal.Legend (Meath) - Posts: 665 - 27/06/2017 20:34:47    2006496

Dublin to win this one, eventually. I remember sometime during the noughties a gas night in Quinn's where around 1000 of each Dub and Kildare supporters went face to face in a brilliant 'slag off' where we gave each other the floor as to sing our song or an insult to the other team.
It was great fun and anytime a loud mouth got aggressive during it he was soon quelled by the mob.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8585 - 27/06/2017 20:49:10    2006509

Pharmstrong (Kildare) - Posts: 29 - 27/06/2017 21:37:04    2006545