Win Leinster, bring back the confidence to the county, break down the established trinity.

In reality, the path to this destination was being mapped out before the management structure was even put in place. Lessons were being learned; little wisps of knowledge were uncovered about how to improve on what went before. It was felt that Dublin weren't a bad team and a little tweaking could do the trick. So it has proved.

In the time between Tommy Lyons' departure and the appointment of Paul Caffrey, those close to and involved with the Dublin team were straw-polled as to how the Dublin system could be refined. Caffrey was central to this communication and when he took charge, some of the observations that were aired were put to immediate use. Training was moved from Cathal Brugha Barracks to St David's college, though this was initially read as Caffrey's first move to distance himself from the previous regime. Whatever the reason, the decision worked and those who believed he was continuing on the line from the Lyons era began to revise their opinions.

Training was revamped.

Smaller groups and a more intense look at the individual. The weights room became a real focus. When outlining a training programme to Paul Clarke, Caffrey never used previous methods as a point of reference. He simply wanted a strong, powerful set of players, capable of matching the intensity shown by the likes of Armagh and Tyrone.

Though David Billings followed Caffrey out of the old management team, Caffrey's appointments of Clarke and Brian Talty as selectors have proved crucial. The two have provided new and unheard voices at senior level. Clarke, who still plays for Whitehall, is respected among players and his knowledge of emerging talent is another plus.

Having coached a number of the current senior men at underage level, Talty shares the same standing. In effect, Caffrey's appointments have proved a wonder stroke and the retention of the Leinster championship this year proves that players have bought into the approach of management. Minds are focused, confidence is rising.

Under Lyons, it was felt that selectors and team captains sometimes weren't given enough say in proceedings. The same can't be said with Caffery in charge and the ship is sailing evenly.

A win over Westmeath on Saturday and Dublin are back in an All Ireland semi final with a real chance of making the closing game of the season.

"We're a year further down the line so you'd hope we've progressed, " says Clarke.

"You can't say Dublin have lost games because of fitness, so we've looked at trying to get players a bit stronger.

We're probably a couple of years behind in that regard and we're still developing.

But we know that the players have progressed [physically] over the last 18 to 20 months and we're happy with that."

Each department of the team receives fine-tuned training and each selector's area of expertise is applied where it works best, with Talty, for example, working closely with the midfielders.

"It's only natural that there will be specific drills for each position of the field, " continues Clarke, "because Gaelic football has moved on from the time when you sent out your whole panel to do 20 laps. Goalkeepers have to do specific work; defenders have to be strong in certain areas and so on. The day of everybody training together is probably gone."

In general Dublin circles, Talty was best known as one of those who took part in the 1983 All Ireland final when he lined out for his native Galway. Though some of the Dublin hardcore would have balked at the suggestion of an outside input on the senior county team, the truth is that Talty has been part of Dublin's intricate football system for the past 27 years. He has coached intensively at the school where he teaches, St David's, and has county honours as a player with Parnells.

From his time in charge of the St Judes and St Sylvesters clubs, Talty has been a highly regarded figure. He first arrived on the county set up when Alan Larkin invited him into the Dublin minor backroom team and a spell with the U-21's, under Tommy Lyons followed. Ever since, he has been linked with a place on the Dublin senior management team.

"I suppose I'd have been known as a fairly vocal coach, " says Talty, "but I've matured these days. You come around to thinking that you're better off remaining cool on the sideline and watching everything on the field. The way we operate, my job on match day is to see all that's going on, so you have to be a little bit detached from the game."

The true test of management has yet to present itself.

Last year brought a huge release when Leinster was captured and really, anything on top of that was like nailing the bonus number. The loss to Tyrone in a replayed quarter-final didn't bring any deep investigations from Dublin's public and what Longford subsequently achieved put this season's only away outing in perspective.

"We've taken positives and negatives from our games so far, " continues Talty. "We've got a bit more consistency and we've lifted our game in the second half.

When we came under pressure the lads kept their cool and they got on with business. On the other hand it took us a while to get going against Offaly. And there were times when we took wrong options in front of the goal. But it's about hard work at the end of it all. I think the big change lately is the fact that players realise they have to work harder and harder than they did in the past."

It's that work ethic that has raised the stock of football in the capital and expectations are high again. Should Dublin slide unexpectedly, the manner in which defeat will be dealt with will provide a true reading of the standing of this management team. In six days time they face the same opposition that ultimately led to the downfall of the Lyons regime.

That loss to Westmeath resulted in coarse words and crude actions and today's management are aware that a similar fate could greet them should they slip up.

Defeat on Saturday would be a stone in the engine of progress.

It's unlikely to happen.

Dublin have done their homework. They were revising before they even knew they were going to sit the exam.

STORY OF THE SUMMER

ENTERING FINAL CHAPTER ALL IRELAND SFC QUARTER-FINAL DUBLIN vWESTMEATH Croke Park, Saturday, 4.00 Live, RTE Two, 1.40 Two years back, when these sides met in that memorable Leinster tie, Westmeath weren't given a snowflake's chance of progressing. It will be the same next Saturday.

Dublin, of course, fully deserve to have the tag of favourites tied to them for this one but Westmeath have benefited enormously from their journey through the qualifying series.

If we pull the covers from their last three games, a team brimming with character is revealed. They took Limerick by a point, went to Sligo and did the same, then repeated the trick last weekend in Salthill against a much fancied home side.

Longford heroics apart, Tomas O Flaharta's achievement in guiding Westmeath to this stage has been the story of the championship. They've progressed as far as that heady summer of '04 and have done so with less of the fanfare and razzmatazz. This will stand to them.

The task of going a step further is a difficult one, though.

First off, they'll need a fully fit David O'Shaughnessy to start at midfield. He came on before halftime last Saturday and his influence was immediate, tipping the balance around the centre in Westmeath's favour.

Gary Dolan has taken some of the spotlight off his brother by providing crucial goals in the last two games. Another here wouldn't go astray but Stephen Cluxton has yet to concede this season.

The Dublin full-back line did show signs of weakness in the first quarter of the Leinster final though, when Offaly used the long ball effectively and this is an avenue that Westmeath should look to exploit.

Bryan Cullen has given a couple of fine exhibitions since he moved to centre-back for Dublin and what's more, his presence on the half-forward line hasn't been missed.

Significantly, Dublin now possess the most dangerous front six of all that remain in the championship.

They're powerful, industrious and scores . . . and some poor wides too . . . have come easily.

Alan Brogan found a higher peak of play against Offaly, Conal Keaney has tormented every defence this year and Jason Sherlock's experience is finally beginning to show on the 40. The re-emergence of Ray Cosgrove is another weapon in their armoury.

In John Keane and Damien Healy (right), Westmeath have a couple of top class man-markers and they'll need to keep the shackles on Keaney and Tomas Quinn to prevent them running wild in Croke Park.

Worryingly for Westmeath, Dublin have the ability to steamroll the opposition if they can find some momentum. It happened against Offaly once Ciaran Whelan and the industrious Shane Ryan got a footing at midfield and they did the same against Laois . . . albeit once Padraic Clancy was sidelined. If things aren't working in this department, Dublin still have Darren Magee in reserve.

Westmeath's four game run will end here.

Verdict Dublin by five