Old heads to keep Cross' settled

All-Ireland Club Football Championship Final: Celebrating Crossmaglen's glittering record in the AIB club championship tends to overlook that the greatest achievement from today's perspective isn't so much that the club won three All-Irelands in four years between 1997-2000 but that the side taking the field this afternoon is a rebuilt model.

Only six of the team that started the semi-final win over St Brigid's were veterans of the third All-Ireland title seven years ago.

That's a significant difference and the contemporary team is younger, faster and less imposing in the front eight where a decade ago there were three players around 6ft 5in.

But the veteran contingent is still important. Francie Bellew and John Donaldson backbone the defence and up front Oisín McConville is still a superb strike forward.

After the semi-final Crossmaglen manager Donal Murtagh expressed relief that St Brigid's had gone for high ball against Bellew rather than a more mobile approach. He'll get both today and, in fact, when Karol Mannion moved in to the square when the Roscommon champions were chasing the game, it wasn't all calm and composure at the back.

For Crokes that option won't be favoured, as they don't play a target man and anyway manager Pat O'Shea favours a more fluid, possession-based game. But any team with a two-man full forward line, let alone one containing Colm Cooper, is going to utilise a certain amount of early release.

Cooper's eight goals in the campaign to date have been vital for both their timing and execution and Brigid's manager Anthony Cunningham feels that a mobile defender like Aaron Kernan could be deployed to do a man marking job on the lethal forward.

There is an added urgency to the requirement for the Killarney side to move the ball quickly. Like all Ulster teams, Cross' will happily devour any pass-the-parcel attacking movements and redefine the phrase "hard yards".

Tactically, O'Shea has made astute switches in his side's big matches whereas Crossmaglen vary their game plan and restarts as required.

One concern for the Armagh club is their habit of winning narrowly. As long as Dr Crokes are within sight, they'll have a chance. But Crossmaglen have to be favourites. Their combination of youth and experience is more settled looking than their opponents' very young XV and their consistency in matches is in contrast to Crokes' tendency to blow hot and cold.

Crossmaglen v Dr Crokes Today, Croke Park Throw-in - 2pm On TV - TG4