A BRIGHT new chapter in Dublin's GAA history is eagerly anticipated this weekend. It certainly would be fitting if by Sunday evening the capital's champion sides, St Sylvester's footballers and O'Toole's hurlers, lay the benchmark for all Leinster counties and clubs by attaining the elusive club championship double.

The quality of the opposition in both deciders is indicative of the enormity of the task ahead. Camross, the Laois champions, are quite familiar with the Leinster final scene. It will be their third appearance in the final since winning the title in 1976.

O'Toole's, Dublin champions for the second successive season will be appearing in their first provincial decider.

St Sylvester's Brian Tally is only too aware of the experience factor and the huge edge Eire Og of Carlow will have on his side in Newbridge.

He is repeatedly being reminded of the Carlow champions' imposing record - they have won three out of four Leinster titles in this decade, with a record of winning 14 out of 15 championship matches.

However, Tally believes "every match is different" and is confident that his squad can overcome any shortage of experience.

Assistant manager Terry Roche is proud of the club's success since gaining senior ranks seven years ago. "It's a team overflowing with team spirit," he said.

A Leinster final appearance for the club may have seemed unlikely earlier this year, but a nine point win Kilmacud Crokes signposted some possibilities.

The club fields 15 football teams and 11 hurling sides, starting with under 18 teams, and their satisfaction with their home brewed contingent is unmistakable.

The club welcomes the so called outsider. "People talk a load of rubbish about the composition of our senior team," says Roche. "It makes me cringe to hear things like that we are bringing in players. With a couple of exceptions our players have played with the club since they were under 8," said Roche.

Should Galway's full back Brian Silke or Limerick's Timmie Cummins fail to pass fitness tests, St Sylvester's chances would diminish considerably.

Yet, Tally admits to a possible embarrassment of talent should all of the walking wounded prove to be fit in time.

Three key players picked up injuries in the semi final. Brian Barnes (hamstring), who moved to full back in place of Silke against Kilanerin, is the most doubtful. Keith Galvin and Declan Barnes are also nursing injuries.

"We'll defer naming the team until Saturday night," said Tally. "Some players, like Gavin Dolan who played his first match in the semi final and scored three points, are putting other, more established players under pressure for places."

However, their target men, Shay Keogh and Nial Guiden, would be more confident than most of retaining their forward positions. Tally is far from complaining about the keen competition for places.

O'Toole's manager, Andrew Cunningham is delighted with the switch to Nowlan Park for Sunday's hurling decider against Camross.

"They play a lot of important hurling matches down there so we re glad to be playing on a real hurling ground," he said.

"It's our first final at provincial level and we know we are up against it. We are confident but not overly so. We are playing a very experienced team with inter county Laois players."

O'Toole's strengths are based on the eight current members of the Dublin panel, three of them who have won top honours with their native Kilkenny.

The Kilkenny factor has been good to O'Toole's, but Cunningham does not wish to over emphasise their importance.

"Jamsie (Brennan), Eamonn (Morrissey) and Michael (Dunne) were not with us when we won last year's championship," he says.

The former Kilkenny trio have, however, clearly played invaluable roles this year. Morrissey has chalked up 11 points in the last two matches. His contribution proved vital when they beat Offaly champions Sier Kieran in the semi final replay.

Brennan regards his county final win with the Dublin club as one of the greatest experiences of his life.

O'Toole's have a hugely impressive half back line in Dave McLoughlin, Damien Hernon and Liam Donoghue. "I'd say it is perhaps our best line," says Cunningham. Others may attribute that status to the midfield pairing of Brennan and Sean Kearns. Sunday will tell.