It is difficult to underestimate the importance of the Leinster SFC decider, throw-in at 3.30pm at Croke Park, to the current Dublin team.
A win would confirm the hype that they have been generating for the past eighteen months, a loss could greatly diminish the confidence that has been adding to their performances (and that of their supporters).
Dublin are definitely strong enough to defeat this Offaly side but therein lies their problem. Twelve months ago they were facing a much more difficult task against Laois. This year they could just fall to the underdogs.
Offaly were a shade lucky to defeat a Wexford side that did not play to their own strengths. If they manage to frustrate the Dublin forwards to the same extent as they did to Matty Forde then they should stay close right to the end.
The Offaly forwards like to play with quick ball supplied from midfield and the Dubs will spend their day trying to stifle such a supply.
With Brian Cullen steering Dublin from centre-back the Metropolitans should power to their second consecutive Leinster SFC title.
Verdict: Dublin
