DUBS GETTING IT TIGHT CAN BE A POSITIVE

DESSIE FARRELL believes his side's narrow Leinster SFC semi-final win will stand them in good stead for their bid to win their 13th provincial title in a row on Sunday week

- MICHAEL SCULLY

Louth stand in their way and the transformation in the Wee County under Mickey Harte has made them defensively hard to break down while effective on the counterattack, a combination that saw the former Division 4 side push for a place in the top tier.

On the basis of Dublin's largely listless display before seeing off Kildare by two points on Sunday, Louth will feel there are reasons to believe they can win a provincial crown for the first time since 1957.

For Farrell, however, there is some consolation that, after a facile victory over Laois, Kildare presented the Dubs with the kind of challenge that awaits from Louth.

"Yeah, look you definitely want competitive games because of what we're facing in a couple of weeks' time," said Farrell.