Leinster SHC - semi-final preview

Dublin v Wexford:So are Dublin poised to make their first Leinster final in 16 years? Or are Wexford poised to make their seventh in succession? That what's on the line in Nowlan Park this evening and why Dublin will need to produce something special to buck the trend.

Yet, there are reasons to suggest Dublin can do it. Their league form marked undeniable progress, highlighted by the wins over Galway and Limerick and the draw against Kilkenny. They buckled in the end with defeats to Antrim and Tipperary, though that was somewhat explained by the tough three-game schedule in eight days.

Manager Tommy Naughton didn't complain, the focus always being on the championship. They've had a couple of setbacks since, losing forward Kevin O'Reilly and John McCaffrey to injury, but John Coghlan - brother of the champion hurdler Peter - has come in as fitness trainer this year and in that regard they're only now coming to a peak. And spirit-wise things could hardly be better.

It's still a highly promising Dublin team, finely balanced between confident young talents (Declan Qualter, Joey Boland, Ross O'Carroll and Padraig O'Driscoll) and experienced players (Kevin Flynn, Liam Ryan and Derek O'Reilly). Defensively, Dublin look particularly strong, though there's a bit more uncertainty about their new midfield pairing, and the younger forwards.

Dublin's biggest problem, however, is that they're meeting a Wexford team who have clearly been revitalised under manager John Meyler. Their league form proved just as impressive in the end, especially the surprise win over Galway in the quarter-final.

They fell heavily to Kilkenny in the semi-final, but that probably was "one of those days" that simply didn't reflect Wexford's true ability.

Meyler has been working hard to bring Wexford back to the stage where they can rejoin the line of All-Ireland contenders. He's put his stamp on this team, with Declan Ruth comfortable at full back, while the Jacob brothers Michael and Rory, along with Darren Stamp at full forward, offer a real threat.

David O'Connor is an interesting selection at centre forward, and corner forward Nigel Higgins is also back in the team after a two-year absence. They also boast the best shot-stopper in the country in Damien Fitzhenry and, overall, Wexford have the edge in class and confidence to handle whatever storm Dublin raise against them.

DUBLIN:G Maguire; P Brennan, S Hiney, T Brady; M Carton, R Fallon, D O'Reilly; D Qualter, J Boland; L Ryan, R O'Carroll, D Curtin; J Kelly, P O'Driscoll, K Flynn.

WEXFORD:D Fitzhenry; M Travers, D Ruth, P Roche; R Kehoe, K Rossiter, C Kenny; E Quigley, D Lyng; P Carley, D O'Connor, M Jacob; N Higgins, D Stamp, R Jacob.

Leinster SHC - semi-final, Dublin v Wexford. Tonight, Nowlan Park. Throw-in - 7pm