Good..but Des wants even more

DESSIE FARRELL insists Dublin are a “work in progress” despite breezing through the Leinster Championship with 50 points to spare.

Five first half goals meant Dublin were out of sight by half-time as they cruised to yet another Leinster title success – their 12th on the trot.

The Blues looked like a team on the slide during the spring after relegation to Division 2 but now they’re enjoying a summer of fun.

After whopping Westmeath and Meath – and beating Kildare by 14 points – they’ve come through their Leinster games 50 points to the good.

Cormac Costello struck two goals and finished with 2-1 while man of the match Con O’Callaghan helped himself to 1-5.

Ciaran Kilkenny and Paddy Small got on the goal trail too while Brian Fenton lorded it at midfield again, scoring three points.

Kildare must somehow pick themselves up for an All-Ireland Round 2 qualifier while Dublin advance to the quarter-finals in rude health.

Boss Farrell was delighted with Dublin’s efficiency but says they’re far from the finished article overall with a new-look team, including ex-U20 stars Lee Gannon and Lorcan O’Dell.

He said: “I thought our efficiency was good but it’s about trying now to be even more efficient.

“That’s one element for sure and there are others we’re working on, some going reasonably well, others maybe not so well. It’s still a work in progress, I can guarantee you that.

“Even though it seems to be a significant winning margin, we’ll review it and pick it apart and find areas where we can work on.”

Dublin’s five goals all came between the fifth and 27th minutes. O’Callaghan fed Kilkenny for the first before Costello pounced on a Dean Rock shot that struck the post to turn home Dublin’s second.

Costello added another major after good work by Sean Bugler who also set up Small for his goal. O’Callaghan went from creator to finisher in the 27th minute when he struck his and Dublin’s fifth.

Kildare looked shellshocked to go in 5-7 to 0-6 down at half-time. They needed a miracle but after kicking the first two points of the second half their comeback petered out.

Dublin looked physically stronger, far sharper and were a constant threat when they played direct ball into their lethal forwards.

In the end, nine different Dublin players got on the scoresheet including young defender Gannon who struck 0-2. Subs Niall Scully and Aaron Byrne contributed too.

Kildare were better in the second half but some of the energy had gone from Dublin’s performance at that stage.

Jimmy Hyland pulled back a consolation goal for the Lilywhites but manager Glenn Ryan admitted the result amounted to a significant bump in the road for them.

He said: “Obviously we weren’t expecting to be in that position after the first half. We’re very disappointed with the goals and the manner of the concessions.”