The Championship

Michael Darragh McCauley has been named at full-forward for Dublin’s Leinster Final clash with Meath on Sunday. Whether he’ll play there or not is a different story, however.

McCauley is one of two changes made to the Dubs’ starting XV as Pat Gilroy has instigated a mini-shake up from the side that fell over the line against a wasteful Wexford in the Leinster semi-final.

Gone from the side are the suspended Diarmuid Connolly and centre half-back Ger Brennan, with Cian O’Sullivan coming in at left half-back and Kevin Nolan moving inside to man the heart of the defence.

In attack, Kevin McManamon, who was one of the few Dublin players to catch fire against Wexford, moves to top of the left to accommodate McCauley at full forward, but it seems doubtful that a man with McCauley’s engine and ability to wield an influence around the middle of the park will stick around the square for too long.

The prospect of a two-man inside forward line of McCauley and Bernard Brogan sounds incredibly dangerous and given that Brogan was somewhat off colour last time out, he’ll be keen to make amends against the Royals on Sunday.

The last time these sides met in the Leinster Championship, Meath scored five goals in an 11-point victory and while we can’t envisage a similar occurrence on Sunday, there’s a lot to look forward to nonetheless.

Throw-in for the Leinster Football Final is 4pm on Sunday at Croke Park.

Dublin team to play Meath: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, R O’Carroll, P McMahon; J McCarthy, K Nolan, C O’Sullivan; E Fennell, D Bastick; P Flynn, A Brogan, B Cullen; B Brogan, MD Macauley, K McManamon.