ALAN: NOW JUST THREE STEPS TO HEAVEN; Sam the ultimate goal after epic win books last eight spot.

Byline: MICHAEL SCULLY

THE LEINSTER SFC final was the game Dublin wanted and needed - but it will mean nothing if they don't get the next three weeks right.

That's the view of Alan Brogan, one of a number of Dubs who has been in this position in the past only to be left wondering what might have been after falling at the All-Ireland quarterfinal or semifinal stage. For while the Blues secured their fifth provincial title on the spin when they brilliantly overcame Kildare at Croke Park on Sunday, they are still three steps away from their ultimate goal - All-Ireland glory.

It is something that has eluded every one of the Dublin squad apart from Jason Sherlock and so with that in mind, Brogan is not getting carried away.

"We have had tight games before in Leinster," he remembered. "A number of years ago (2005) we only beat Laois in the last minute when Mossie (Tomas Quinn) kicked a '45.

"So we have been in tight games before and it hasn't transformed into All-Ireland success.

"It's over now and we will move onto the next day.

"It does not really matter what preparation you have had. It is the next three weeks coming into the All-Ireland quarter-final that count." Dublin will have to wait to find out who their next opponents will be but they are determined to avoid the same outcome as last year, when they coasted past Wexford in the Leinster final only to meet eventual All-Ireland winners Tyrone in awesome form in the last eight at Croke Park.

Pat Gilroy's new regime instigated personnel change with that in mind but the vastly experienced players who were relegated to the bench - Ciaran Whelan, Bryan Cullen and Shane Ryan - all played massive parts in Sunday's thrilling encounter.

Cullen played an influential part after Ger Brennan, the man who has replaced him at centre-back, was sent off in the 19th minute.

Whelan had a major role in Dublin's resurgence after half-time as he gained control in midfield, while Ryan was a strong running presence when the Blues needed that late on.

"It certainly helped," Brogan agreed. "In previous years when under pressure I suppose we would not have had someone like Whealo or Cully to come in or even Shane Ryan, and you saw the reception he got when coming in and he got on a few balls with 10 minutes left.

"Everyone was probably dead on their feet and he came in and he lifted the tempo of the game for us again. You need guys like that on the line who can come in and make a difference.

"The substitutions provided a huge lift.

"Whelo in the first 10 or 12 minutes of the second half really took to the game. They were dominating midfield and we just needed someone to steady the ship. It was probably a ropey enough first half and Whelo did that.

"Cully also came on. He has not had much of luck all year.

"He has been excellent and it is great to have someone like that when Ger was sent off to come in and step into centre-back and command the game the way he did."

For Brogan, there was a sense of real achievement about win-ninthis Leinster Championship given the way things looked bad for Dublin at half-time, with Kildare rampant in attack and making hay with the extra man.

The all-action centre-forward said: "When we watch the video I suppose we'll see that when Ger got sent off they used their extra man very well and he did a lot of damage to us in both halves.

"We held them up most of the time but they always had that outlet out in the right wing and they used it and they got a lot of scores that way.

"We probably should have done something about that at some stage.

"He certainly seemed to be doing a lot of damage and maybe we should probably have picked him up a bit tighter "But it is easy to say that with the benefit of hindsight but in the heat of battle it is not easy.

"When we went down a man it is very difficult to play with 14 men and you just need everyone to row in.

"Someone has to do it and we took turns, and I went into the full-forward line just to get breathers."

1995

Dubs legend John O'Leary lifts the Leinster title 14 years ago and later that summer Charlie Redmond got his hands on Sam after they beat Tyrone in the All-Ireland final...

2009?

Jason Sherlock and Ciaran Whelan take their kids up to lift the Leinster title last Sunday but Jayo remains the only member of the Dublin panel to have an All-Ireland medal in his collection...

CAPTION(S):

QUALITY Alan Brogan gets past Kildare's Mick Foley in Croke Park on Sunday