A BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS; FOOTBALL DUBLIN v WESTMEATH.

Byline: MICHAEL SCULLY

PAUL GRIFFIN has given the Dublin defence a tentative thumbs up ahead of their Leinster SFC semi-final clash with Westmeath at Croke Park on Sunday.

Blues skipper Griffin was part of the unit that held a disappointing Meath attack to 12 points in their first Championship outing of the summer almost three weeks ago.

That defence included two SFC debutants - full-back Denis Bastick and left corner-back Alan Hubbard - while the centre-back role was filled by Ger Brennan, who surprisingly replaced Bryan Cullen in the pivotal role.

The trio all performed well but Hubbard makes way this weekend for another debutant - 19-year-old Rory O'Carroll.

"We were probably disappointed with how many scores we conceded but, overall, we did pretty well in the individual battles," recalled wing-back Griffin. "Guys stood up and performed well. Alan has lost out for this game but Denis did very well at full-back.

"As a unit we felt pretty comfortable with how it went but we will need to sharpen up for the next day and Westmeath will offer a different challenge. Everyone is looking forward to it.

"Championship football is a step up and maybe we were a bit too eager the last day, we were rushing shots when scores were on.

"Hopefully the next day we'll be more relaxed and will play our football a little bit easier.

"We got the win, a lot of the facets of our play were very good but over the last couple of weeks we have been working on things."

Griffin is a clubmate of O'Carroll, whose brother Ross is also a key member of the Dubs squad but is unavailable through injury.

Remarkably Rory only made his senior debut for Kilmacud Crokes last December when he came on as a substitute in the Leinster club final but his rapid progress has provided him with the experience of playing in the All-Ireland club decider at Croke Park, as well as the All-Ireland under-21 final.

Griffin claims that will compensate on Sunday for O'Carroll's lack of experience at senior level.

"All that stands to you, like playing at Croke Park with the club. He won't be phased by this on Sunday. It is a great opportunity for him and he will be hoping to launch himself into the Championship team. Griffin added: "Rory is just a good footballer. He is only out of minor so it is not his fault that he is not experienced.

"He is only 19 and he came in late to our club team last year. He has done really well. He is a good, solid footballer. He attacks the ball well from the full-back line and gives it off nice and easy. That is exactly what he will do on Sunday. He doesn't need to change his game.

"That is how he has always played his football and hurling. He has done that with the club and with the under-21s and out here at training. He has just gone about his training and he should fly this Sunday."

As for the threat that Westmeath will pose, Griffin is quick to dismiss the 27-point hammering inflicted on Tomas O'Flatharta's charges when the sides met in the League in April.

"The two teams at that stage were in very different situations," he said.

"They had already been relegated and we were playing at home and had to win to stay up.

"They were missing a lot of key guys as well that day and they'll be back on Sunday. That will make a big difference to their team."

The 25-year-old's point of reference is the two point victory that Dublin managed in last year's Championship meeting at Croke Park. "I don't think you can be complacent going into a Leinster Championship match," he warned.

"We know how hard it is to play against Westmeath in the last few years.

"Last year there was only two points in it and it was a really tight game up until about five minutes to go when we got a couple of extra scores to pull away.

"It was the same the year before that as well, they are always going to be a very difficult team.

"Everyone finds Westmeath a difficult team to play against.

"They're extremely hard-working and very together as a unit, they all contribute defensively and attack in groups and it is difficult to match that."

CAPTION(S):

SKIPPER Paul Griffin will lead the Dubs into battle in Croke Park on Sunday