Dublin go into Sunday's Football League Division 2 final as heavy favourites against Derry, despite the Ulstermen beating them earlier this month in Celtic Park.
With Dublin at home in Croke Park this time around, and with more at stake, the odds are in their favour as they look to gather momentum going into the Leinster and All-Ireland Championships, and make up in some way for last year's embarrassing relegation from Division 1.
However, Peter Canavan - speaking on RTE's GAA podcast - is optimistic for Derry's chances, given what he saw from Dublin's defence in their recent League win over Louth.
This time I expect it will be close enough going into the last ten to fifteen minutes. If Jack McCaffrey is fit and Paul Mannion is able to come off the bench just that may just swing it in Dublin's favour.
But to me I think if Derry go at them, they'll have witnessed that the Dublin defence is leaky. Even though they only conceded one goal against Louth they could have conceded three or four.
I think that's something that Derry will try and exploit. I think they'll go for goals and I wouldn't be surprised if they have the legs on Dublin at this stage of the year.
Peter Canavan Reckons Derry Can Exploit Dublin In League Final
26 March 2023; Dublin substitute Stephen Cluxton, right, watches the second half of Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Dublin and Louth at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
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Of course, the main talking point from that Louth match was the sensational return of Dublin's talisman Stephen Cluxton.
But, while he still remains one of the greats and was one of their most important players in their historic run of All-Ireland titles, Canavan reckons that the incumbent keeper David O'Hanlon has done enough to keep is place over Cluxton.
"What reason would Dessie have for dropping David O'Hanlon at the minute. I thought he was excellent in Celtic Park, and in the bits and pieces I've seen of him throughout the year he is one for the future, if not one for the current.
"And I would say that would be a serious gamble for Dessie to make."
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