The road to Croke Park
Head-to-Head
Marc Ó Sé v Donnacha O'Connor
(Analysis by John O'Keeffe)
"Both players have been outstanding all year, with Marc, in particular, producing the best form of his career to date. He is a classical man marker, very good in the one-on-one situation because of the natural qualities he possesses: quick feet, balance, pace and a tendency not to foul the man. On top of all that he is comfortable on the ball.
"He had an inclination to get forward too much but that urge has sensibly been curbed by refocusing on his primary duty of denying his man possession.
"Marc found Donnacha O'Connor a handful in the past, especially in the Munster final replay last year. O'Connor is willing to make the hard runs to get possession. He is deceptively strong, has good pace and can kick scores with both feet. He provides a goal threat as well as kicking frees from the left side.
"The major advantage Marc brings is experience. This is his fifth All-Ireland final but O'Connor, like his team-mates, is charting new ground. The question is how he adapts because we already know Ó Sé has the right temperament." Outsider's view
Joe Kernan (ex- Armagh boss)
"Everybody would have Kerry as favourites and probably rightly so, but the one thing about Cork and Kerry matches is you don't know what's going to happen.
"Cork don't fear Kerry and for the 10 minutes that they played in the Munster final they showed on any day if they perform to the height of their ability they can beat them. I think a lot will depend on the middle of the field and if Darragh (Ó Sé) is fit. If not I think Nicholas Murphy will dominate and that will have a huge impact on the game.
"The Cork forwards were exceptional against Meath when the ball went in early. They tend to take a wee bit too long when moving ball out from half back. Quick delivery inside and Cork can win but there won't be much in it.
"Cork have improved steadily over these past two or three years while Kerry have niggling injuries so it all depends on how these hold up. Losing to Kerry in Croke Park will have been a learning process for Cork and they should be able to cope with the environment now. I have a wee feeling for Cork."
Final defeats
Kerry may be gunning for a 35th All-Ireland title (fourth this century) while Cork seek to end a 17-year famine with title number seven, but what about the counties' losing record in September?
Kerry have been beaten 17 times, to Cork's 13, in All-Ireland finals. The Kingdom's last heartbreak was two seasons back against Tyrone and before that it was Armagh's famous second-half revival in 2002. Before that again we must go back to 1982 and the controversial late goal by Offaly sub Séamus Darby that denied Kerry their dream of five-in-a-row.
Cork's last two All-Ireland finals (1993 and 1999) ended in defeat to Derry and Meath.
Odds and ends
If Cork beat Kerry on Sunday Paddy Power are facing a €1-million payout. Cork were 18 to 1 earlier in the championship and a few patriotic Rebels made what may turn out to be a shrewd investment.
Billy Morgan's boys are now 9 to 4 while Kerry are 4 to 9 to become the first county to retain Sam Maguire since Cork in 1990.
Another interesting bet is 8 to 1 that Noel O'Leary receives the first yellow card and 11 to 2 that either O'Leary or Paul Galvin is sent off. Considering their priors from the Munster final back in July, when O'Leary was cited and later suspended for kicking Galvin, this may be worth a look. Our spies in the deep south tell us, however, that Morgan may hand O'Leary a roving brief to deny the frontrunner for footballer of the year. If that proves correct Declan O'Sullivan may lead him a merry dance.
Boylesports have installed Antrim club St Gall's as favourites for Saturday's Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland football sevens. The hosts are joint third favourites on 12 to 1, behind Derry's Bellaghy on 8 to 1, while Kerry representatives An Gaeltacht are further out at 20 to 1 - we suspect this is due to the other game their three intercounty stars (the brothers Ó Sé) are playing the following day.
7/1 St Galls (Antrim), 8/1 Bellaghy (Derry), 12/1 Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin), 12/1 Castlewellan (Down), 12/1 Slaughtneil (Derry), 12/1 Longstone (Down), 16/1 Corofin (Galway), 16/1 Crossmolina (Mayo), 16/1 Moy (Tyrone), 16/1 Castleblaney (Monaghan).
