Kildare keep winning formula

Kildare have made no changes for Sunday's Leinster football final showdown with Dublin at Croke Park. The team announced by manager Mick O'Dwyer last night will line out exactly the same as that which achieved a three-point win over Offaly in the semi-final replay last Sunday week.

It means that Karl O'Dwyer has once again lost his battle to recover from the finger injury that kept him out of both meetings with Offaly. The influential forward had a steel pin removed from his finger only yesterday and has yet to regain full fitness ahead of what will be the seventh meeting between the counties in the last 10 years.

There were doubts over the fitness of two other key Kildare players - wing back John Finn and midfielder Martin Lynch. Most pressing was the problem for Finn, who was forced to leave the semi-final replay shortly before half-time after suffering a hamstring injury. That subsequently proved to be less serious than feared and he keeps his place for Sunday ahead of David Hughes, the man who replaced him the last day.

Lynch left the action a few minutes from time due to an ankle injury, but he also recovered sufficiently to take his place. He will again partner his Clane clubmate, the equally experienced Willie McCreery, at centrefield.

There were a few adjustments in the attack ahead of that second meeting with Offaly. Padraig Brennan was given his first championship start of the season at right corner forward and, after a most productive afternoon, ended up the game's top scorer with eight points (five from frees). Brennan keeps his place ahead of Padraig Gravin.

Tadhg Fennin continues to deputise for O'Dwyer in the other corner. Equally new to the full forward line is Ronan Sweeney, who again lines out at number 14.

Sweeney is one of six changes from the team that was eliminated by Offaly last year. Gone from that side are Ken Doyle, Derek Maher, Paul McCormack, Declan Kerrigan, Cathal Sheridan and O'Dwyer.

Discounting O'Dwyer's forced absence, there are just four new names from the side that reached the All-Ireland final two summers ago. Missing or retired from that team are Sos Dowling, Niall Buckley, Kerrigan and Gravin.

It will be tomorrow evening at the earliest before the Dublin team is decided. The most pressing concern for manager Tom Carr is the state of midfielder Ciaran Whelan, whose injury problem continues to leave him doubtful at this stage.

Carr is giving Whelan every chance to recover from an ankle injury and although he has returned to training this week, there are still problems over his lack of mobility. Enda Sheehy filled the midfield role in the semi-final win over Westmeath and would appear to be the number-one choice if Whelan is forced out.

Almost certain to be ruled out is Declan Darcy, who has an Achilles tendon problem that has limited his involvement this season.