In Caffrey's first Championship game as manager in 2007, Dublin drew with Meath. Dublin eventually won the tie in a replay by beating Meath by 0–16 to 0–12 and thus qualified to play Offaly in the Leinster semi-final. Caffrey's decision to replace Tomás Quinn with Mark Vaughan as the freetaker proved the vital difference between the sides. Dublin's 1–12 to 0–10 victory sent them into the Leinster final against Laois. Dublin won the Leinster championship by 3–14 to 1–14 points, giving Caffrey a 100% record in Leinster for three years. Dublin played Derry in the quarter final of the all-Ireland series and won the game by 0–18 to 0–15 to set up a semi final against Kerry for the first time since 1977. They lost that game on a 1–15 to 0–16 scoreline.