The road to the All-Ireland final

Head-to-head
Kieran Donaghy v Graham Canty
(Analysis by John O'Keeffe)

"Overall, I think Cork's defensive unit, their six backs, is the most impressive in the country, and Graham Canty is definitely the leader of it. Canty has great strength, pace and experience, and is particularly good at marking close to the goal. He's among the best full backs around at the moment.

"I expect Kieran Donaghy will start in at full forward, even though his form there hasn't been as good as last year, for a few reasons - the quality of ball coming into him hasn't been quite as good, nor has his own movement and showing for the ball; plus of course he's more of a marked man than last year, and he's far more closely guarded than last year.

"So I definitely feel Canty is up to the task of marking Donaghy close to goal. I remember back as Irish International rules manager seeing Canty doing an admirable job at marking Australia's giant Barry Hall, so it's a challenge he'll relish as well.

"The big dilemma for Cork is what to do with Donaghy should he move out the field, like he did against Dublin, and where he was still very effective. Of course, that was partly because Dublin's Ross McConnell gave him the run of Croke Park.

"I can't see Canty following him, because he's too important close to goal, a great shot-stopper, and it may be that Michael Shields will take up Donaghy, and Canty will take Colm Cooper, whom he did such a good job of marking in the Munster final replay last year. In fact, the key to beating Kerry will be keeping Cooper quiet.

"It's an intriguing battle, though, because we could still see Donaghy explode at full forward, if he gets the right ball. And the word from training is he's going very well close to goal. If he does find last year's form, which he well might, even Graham Canty could have a hard time containing him."

Outsider's view
Tyrone manager Mickey Harte

"Kerry and Cork have, over the years, been in many tough encounters with each other, and it's a new and novel experience for both of them. And I think that will add an extra bit of spice to the All-Ireland football final.

"We can identify with it. When ourselves and Armagh reached that final in 2003, it was a unique occasion. And while it's obvious that the province the teams come from will have most interest in it, I think this is definitely a nationwide affair, and everybody will be very keen to see how they both do in what is the ultimate final, not just the Munster final.

"I have to say that I have been an admirer of Cork over the last number of years and I have always felt they didn't deliver what they were capable of.

"They seem to have rectified many of those deficiencies, if you like, that they would have exhibited over the last number of years, and I think they have a very balanced side at the minute.

"I suppose there will be a great desire among them, on a number of counts. Last year Kerry lost Munster and won the All-Ireland; this year Cork lost the Munster title and would like to do the same. And it's always a great incentive to beat the reigning champions, so there are lots of reasons why Cork would want to win this.

"But that doesn't dismiss Kerry, who over the last decade have been the team, without a shadow of doubt. I think it's possible for Cork to win, but they'll certainly have to play the game of their lives."

Football sevens
The traditional curtain-raiser to Sunday's game, plus the last resort of any ticket search, is this Saturday's Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Football Sevens, which once again has attracted the best club sides from all over Ireland, as well as teams from overseas.

Some of the best club teams will be in attendance, including Crossmolina (Mayo), Moy (Tyrone), Castlewellan (Down), Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin), Corofin (Galway), O'Donovan Rossa and Castlehaven (Cork), An Gaeltacht (Kerry), St Galls (Antrim) and Castleblaney Faughs (Monaghan).

Top scorers
Cork hold one advantage over Kerry going into the decider in that 16 players have scored during their championship campaign to date, ahead of Kerry's 13 players. But Cork have played two extra games.

Cork Scorers
James Masters3-27
Donncha O'Connor1-21
Pierce O'Neill...............1-10
Kevin McMahon0-6
Nicholas Murphy0-4
John Miskella1-1
Derek Kavanagh0-3
Conor McCarthy0-3
Daniel Goulding0-3
Noel O'Leary1-0
Fintan Goold0-2
Michael Cussen0-2
Kieran O'Connor0-2
Kevin O'Sullivan0-2
Ger Spillane0-1
Michael Shields0-1

Kerry Scorers
Colm Cooper1-13
Mike Frank Russell0-11
Declan O'Sullivan2-7
Eoin Brosnan2-6
Bryan Sheehan0-5
Paul Galvin0-3
Tomás Ó Sé0-3
Kieran Donaghy0-2
Paul O'Connor0-2
Seán O'Sullivan0-2
Marc Ó Sé0-1
Killian Young0-1
Seán O'Sullivan0-1