Whelan: Dublin have repaired structural damage

Two-time All-Star Ciarán Whelan believes that fixing some obvious structural damage has presented Dessie Farrell's Dublin with a great chance of survival in Division 1.

After starting their campaigns with four defeats on the trot, Dublin have earned back-to-back wins over Tyrone and Donegal, and a third win against Ulster opposition in the form of Monaghan on Sunday would give them an excellent chance of remaining in the top tier.

"Watching Dublin the last couple of weeks, they definitely improved – no doubt about it," Whelan told the RTÉ GAA podcast.

"They’ve got a structure back in their defence, they’re playing a deeper lying (game), they’re not pressing out in the middle third like they were.

"They’re backing off, they’re getting bodies into the scoring zone and they’re more disciplined in their tackle."

As well as tactical tweaks, the RTÉ pundit said that a simpler reason had also contributed to their resurgence, that being the return of some top talent.

"They’re not giving up the goal chances they were in the early part of the league," Whelan continued.

"A lot of that is because (Mick) Fitzsimons is back, Jonny Cooper is back, big leaders in defence, James McCarthy is back, Robbie McDaid is back.

"When you compare the Dublin team from the start of the league to what will probably go up there Sunday, (it’s) a huge difference.

"I think even up front they have been a lot more direct in terms of Cormac Costello going at fellas, they’ve been getting strong runners in. Seán Bugler has been very, very good and (Brian) Howard and (Brian) Fenton were very good at the weekend."

While things are undoubtedly looking brighter in the capital, Whelan believes there are still question marks over the strength of the squad. He does, however,