Dublin look on course for return to top-flight hurling

NHL Division Two Final Kerry v Dublin Semple Stadium, Thurles Tomorrow, 1.30pm:  It was interesting to watch Tommy Naughton and Jerry Molyneaux sit down together at this week's Allianz press briefing ahead of tomorrow's league finals. Both managers had little to say beyond talking sense.

Neither made any song and dance about what they believed Dublin and Kerry could do in hurling. They're simply getting on with the job, making the slow but necessary progress, and ultimately letting the results do the talking.

The prize on offer here - promotion to Division One - usually comes with a fear factor, namely the prospect of some hard thrashings next season. Yet, both Naughton and Molyneaux were adamant it was a prize worth chasing.

Dublin, however, appear better equipped for life with the big boys of hurling. It's still less than a year since they went on that horrendous losing streak, which partly explains Naughton's reticence in getting ahead of himself in any way. What has helped the recent progress - which saw Dublin go unbeaten in Division Two A - has been his determination to deal only with the game in front of him, rather than get distracted by any longer-term ambitions.

Naughton now has a panel of players he believes in. He doesn't get worked up about the problem of dual players, and instead puts all his faith in the players available to him and that's been working.

Former captain David Sweeney returns to the starting line-up having missed the semi-final win over Westmeath, Aodhan de Paor making way. There is enough experience in this Dublin team to go all the way and secure promotion. And with the likes of Kevin Flynn, David Curtain and Kevin Ryan - and with Tomás McGrane also back on board - there is depth in that experience as well.

Molyneaux has done very well to bring Kerry this far, and he admitted that a semi-final place was originally the height of their ambitions - and also that Mayo would have beaten them were they not missing their best player, Keith Higgins.

Former football great John O'Keeffe has been working the physical preparations, and the GAA's new director of hurling Paudie Butler was also invited down for some recent sessions. Kerry also welcome back captain Michael Conway at centre forward, who missed last Sunday's win because of a knee infection, with Aidan Cronin the player to miss out. Andrew Keane also takes over at centre back from David Slattery.

Kerry's star player is undoubtedly Shane Brick of Kilmoyley, who hit eight crucial frees in the 1-17 to 1-16 defeat of Mayo. His scoring form has been impressive throughout the league, and he has the ability to drive Kerry across the finish-line, provided he gets good support from John Mike Dooley.

Dublin, it seems, have come too far to lose this one, and their experience and new-found level-headedness should get them to that line first.

KERRY: PJ O'Gorman; J Fitzgerald, M Lucid, M Quilter; K O'Sullivan, A Keane, C Harris; A Boyle, J Griffin; S Brick, M Conway, D Young; J Egan, JM Dooley, M Slattery.

DUBLIN: G Maguire; P Brennan, K Ryan, T Brady; T Moore, R Fallon, M Carton; D Sweeney, J McCaffrey; E Moran, S McDonnell, D Curtin; K Dunne, K Flynn, A McCrabbe.

Live on TG4

Division Three Final

Longford v Armagh, Breffni Park, tomorrow, 1.30pm

- A narrow win for Longford looks more likely.

Division Two Relegation Final

Wicklow v Roscommon, St Loman's, tomorrow, 3.30pm - If Roscommon can hold their nerve, they should just survive.