Derry accelerating to a new level - will Dublin cope?

It's not often that a Division 2 game generates the most interest from observers across a football league weekend.

The clash of Derry-Dublin at Celtic Park this evening is certainly one to whet the appetite, not because it's the pairing of the top two in the section, but more due to how the Dubs can deal with a Derry side who are certainly playing with real vigour at the moment.

After last Sunday's demolition of Kildare, Oakleaf boss Rory Gallagher labelled the performance as the best from his team this season.

Derry were tenacious in their defensive work but it was their transitions from defence to attack that again stood out. It's clear that Gallagher and his backroom team have been working on making such transitions more telling since the league resumed. The reigning Ulster champions are certainly the in-form team at the moment and it's no surprise that they are heading back to the top tier.

Dublin, while also on track for promotion, have been less eye-catching so far. And while Jack McCaffrey has returned to the fray, there's been little else for Dubs fans to get excited about so far this spring. For much of last Saturday's clash with Clare, they looked disinterested. That said, they stirred themselves late on with a run of seven points on the trot to record a win by the bare minimum.

In assessing Dublin's spring campaign so far, Seán Cavanagh, speaking on Allianz League, wasn't grading them highly.

"I don't see a massive improvement from the Dublin of last year," said the former Tyrone star.

Sean Cavanagh sees "no massive improvement" in Dublin this year, adding that "no new names" are coming through #AllianzLeagues #allianzleaguesunday #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/XFNYqxwynF

"They are struggling in most games. You look at their