Pa Laide (Kerry)

Age: 25.

Height: 5ft 11in. Weight: 12st 7lbs

Club: Austin Stacks.

Honours: All-Ireland MFC 1988, Under-21 1990, NFL 1997, Munster SFC 1997.

Championship debut: v Clare 1990

Appearances 1997: Three.

Substituted 1997: Not to date.

Scored 1997: 1-2 (v Clare), 0-1 (v Cavan).

Reaction to the season? "Our turning point was winning the National League title because having a young team, it was important to get the first bit of success and when you taste that, you like to get more. Our main aim at the start of the year was to have a good run in the League and in the championship. From our point of view it's been successful enough but if we lose on Sunday, a lot of our good work will be forgotten." Most memorable match this season? "I suppose Cavan would be because as a team we had lost to Down in '91 and Mayo last year and there's always at the back of your mind: `are we good enough to get to an All-Ireland?'. So it was nice to get there." Most difficult? "Our loss in the League against Meath up in Navan. It was fairly depressing for us to come out of Navan after being beaten by what was supposed to be half a Meath team. We lost to Clare in the McGrath Cup and they're the only two matches we've lost." Best of the rest? "At the start of the year, Derry were there, Meath were there. If we were playing either of them in the final, they'd be the favourites." Is the standard of football improving? "I don't know. Players are certainly getting fitter and have more of a semi-professional attitude. People ask you what your pastimes are but in fairness you don't have any time for pastimes and I'm sure the Mayo fellas are the same. I think you have to be more of an all-round footballer playing the game. If you're a corner back, you can end up in a corner forward. The GAA could tighten up on the tackling but that's not for us to decide." How intense is the media pressure? "It's all part of the setup for an All-Ireland final. You have to be able to take it. Some players don't like talking and that's understandable but the media has a job to do and we've a job to do and both of us have to get on with it." Inside view - Seamus Mac Gearalit (Kerry coach): "Pa was very unlucky in recent years with a lot of injuries. Thankfully this year he has come through pretty free of injury. He always had the ability, he won a minor medal in 1988 and a under-21 in 1990. Pa is a real wing forward, great to bring a ball and improve the pattern of play. He can also pop up whether he's expected to or not." Outside view - John O'Keeffe (Clare manager): "Pa was instrumental in the defeat of Clare. Right through, he displayed great pace and got inside our back line. It culminated with him getting a tremendous goal which turned the match. We tried different players on him but he hit a very good day. It's the first time he's had a run without injury and a clear year's training behind him. He's on top form at the moment and is one of Kerry's key players."