Nothing brings more pressure or expectation in the championship arena than a young player stepping into the shoes of a predecessor who has served his county to legendary heights. And for Dublin goalkeeper Davy Byrne, it would be hard to imagine bigger shoes to fill than John O'Leary's.

For three championship seasons now, Byrne has kept watch in the Dublin goal without much argument. When he joined the panel in early 1995, O'Leary was coming to the end of his career, but, for two years, would serve as the master to his apprentice. With O'Leary now a Dublin selector, he maintains a watchful eye and is still sure that Byrne is the best man for the job.

"It was clear all along that he had all the qualities which you would expect to find in a good goalkeeper," says O'Leary. "He's a good shot-stopper and makes the sort of decisions and reactions that you want.

"But it's not like he came in out of the blue. He was on the panel for two years before I retired and would have started in a few challenge games and the like. So, before he stepped into my shoes, there was a bit of a transition period."

On Sunday, Byrne comes up against a Kildare team very similar to that which faced him in his championship debut in the quarter-final of 1998. In Dublin's two outings this summer against Wexford and Westmeath, he conceded a single goal - Jason Lawlor's early strike in the second half against Wexford - although O'Leary doesn't expect it to be any more or less predictable against Kildare.

"Of course, the goalkeeper is under threat in every game and there's always going to be pressure from the forwards no matter who you are playing. But this is his third championship season now and he has gained a lot of experience. It won't be anything new coming up against the Kildare forwards."

In fact, one of the biggest problems facing Byrne this summer has been injury. The recurrence of a groin injury which had bothered him in previous years forced him out of training in the build-up to the Wexford and Westmeath matches, although O'Leary doesn't expect it to hinder his performance to any great extent.

"I actually suffered the same problem at the end of my career and it can cause some difficulties, especially with dead-ball kicking. He missed a bit of training, but has managed to maintain his fitness and I don't think it's going to be any problem for him on Sunday."

There's little doubt that Byrne, who plays his club football with Ballymun Kickhams, has gained a certain amount of inspiration from O'Leary.

"It's not like we ever sat down and had a chat about what it takes to be the Dublin goalkeeper," says O'Leary. "Of course, you pass certain things on, but he's evolved over the past two years into his own type of player and plays the position the way he wants to."

By the time O'Leary captained Dublin to All-Ireland success in 1995, his influence and command on the team was immeasurable. That's a role that Byrne does not adopt at the moment, but there is time to grow into it.

"I think that commanding role is something you develop along the way. I mean, I was very quiet for the first couple of years that I was in goal for Dublin and it takes a certain amount of maturity and confidence to get involved with your defence and start giving them directions.

"But he's getting to that stage now where he's able to motivate them and tell them which way to go. But the defence is reasonably settled now and he's fitted in very well."