If Dublin want to regain the Leinster title they owned for much of the past 20 years, they're going to have to overcome a Westmeath team that offers a completely different challenge to the Louth side they dethroned this past weekend.
That's the lie of the land, according to The Sunday Game analysts Lee Keegan and Paul Flynn.
After a lacklustre opening day against Wicklow in a provincial quarter-final they probably should have lost, Dublin upped the tempo, the aggression and the scoring rate at O’Moore Park on Saturday as they dominated the reigning Delaney Cup holders, emerging as 10-point victors and perhaps slightly raising an eyebrow or two around the country.
Rumours of their demise. Greatly exaggerated. And all of that…
Westmeath, on the other hand, came out on top of a shootout in Tullamore when they overcame Kildare after extra-time to clinch their spot in the Leinster decider. Speaking on the Sunday Game, our RTÉ Sport columnist Keegan risked the ire of the Lilywhites fans – again – when he suggested the provincial showpiece will be a better occasion for having the Lakemen involved.
Lee Keegan feels Westmeath will pose 'different questions' for Dublin in the Leinster SFC final #rtegaa #sundaygame pic.twitter.com/4o98NujShR
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 3, 2026
"I'm happier Westmeath are in the final. They play a better range of football," the former Mayo star argued.
"They’ll pose different questions to Dublin – Kildare are not there yet. That proved to be the case.
"It’s going to be a splendid occasion for Westmeath in particular. They’re riding on a crest there at the moment.
"Yes, Dublin are favourites, based on what we saw last night. But the championship has thrown up a lot of setbacks for teams this year."
Former Dublin ace Flynn, for his part, felt we saw a more realistic example of what this Dublin team can offer on a given day in their dismantling of the Wee County.
"I didn’t think the Wicklow performance was where Dublin are at," Flynn said. "That [semi-final performance] is more where they’re at. It was a battle and they performed really well in that battle.
"Their workrate was something that any Dublin fan can connect with. They had the clinical edge up front, Costello was absolutely fantastic and Scully pulling the strings.
"A Leinster final to look forward to."
