Advantage none THE BENCH Not as clear-cut as one would have said a month ago, Cathal Naughton's semi-final gaisci having provided Cork with a viable impact sub, while it need scarcely be added that Wayne Sherlock would be given a civic reception onto the Kilkenny full-back line were he from Blacks and Whites rather than Blackrock. With Richie Power now a starter, the challengers are stuck for reliable subs up front as well as in the full-back line. But Michael Rice, hard done by in the semifinal, can play anywhere from 5 to 12, Michael Fennelly is another future team pillar and Willie O'Dwyer, man of the match in the 2004 All Ireland under-21 final, should add drive and incisiveness to the half-forward line if called on in the closing stages.

Advantage Kilkenny CORK FULL-BACKS v KILKENNY FULL-FORWARDS Brian Murphy, Diarmuid O'Sullivan and Pat Mulcahy v Richie Power, Henry Shefflin and Aidan Fogarty If Kilkenny are to win, it's difficult to imagine them doing so without scoring at least one goal. If they're to score a goal, it's difficult to imagine it coming from other than here. The issue depends largely on whether Henry Sheffiin is deployed at full-forward, where he started against Clare and promptly took advantage of Brian Lohan's misfortune, or on the half-forward line, or indeed for how long in which sector. One would be inclined to worry about the raggedness of some of Diarmuid O'Sullivan's defending this summer were it not for the knowledge that he's proved himself king of the jungle at Croke Park in the past; certainly the Cloyne man will not be unhappy if any face-off with Sheffiin degenerates into a WWF celebrity deathmatch feast of pulling and dragging. Pat Mulcahy will enjoy a physical advantage should he take up Aidan Fogarty, who has achieved little of late aside from his goal against Galway; Brian Murphy is the corner-back's cornerback (amazing to think he was on the team 30 years ago also. . . ); Richie Power, who wears the number 10 jersey, is prodigiously talented but operates better in space out the field, though he does possess a proven eye for goal. Cork will expect help from their halfbacks; Kilkenny will seek to isolate the Cork full-backs by staying close to goal and keeping their half-forwards as far out the field as possible. Or ought to, at any rate.

Advantage none CORK HALF-BACKS v KILKENNY HALF-FORWARDS John Gardiner, Ronan Curran and Sean Og O hAilpin v Eddie Brennan (right), Martin Comerford and Eoin Larkin The sheet anchor not merely of the Cork defence but of the entire team. The seawall on which opposition waves break and the springboard for their attacks; turn this trio and they simply won't be in a position to hand off the sliotar to the two midfielders to go to war with. Easier said, naturally, than donef Ronan Curran is back to being Franz Beckenbauer after spending 2005 as Gary Breen; Sean Og, who might have been carved by Michaelangelo in that photograph, rose to the occasion splendidly against Dan Shanahan, his singlemindedness and selfiessness making him an ideal man-marker. O hAilpin's agility and doggedness will put an onus on Eddie Brennan, who's been successfully retreaded as a ball-winning wing-forward and comes in on the back of three solid performances this time around, to choose the right option whenever he does escape the Na Piarsaigh man's clutches, assuming the two collide. Eoin Larkin, off form of late and wayward with his shooting, is at his best drifting onto loose ball and firing it over. Sheffiin and Martin Comerford will both see duty on Curran at some stage. The challengers will miss John Hoyne, who could be relied on to stand in and pull (and keep pulling), thereby denying the Cork half-back line time on the ball as well as channelling quick possession into those in the fullforward line.

Advantage Cork MIDFIELD Tom Kenny and Jerry O'Connor v Cha Fitzpatrick and Derek Lyng An obvious crucible. So limpid is his first touch, so perceptive his movement, so sinuous his striking, Cha Fitzpatrick could be fancied to fiourish against any other midfield duo. But Jerry O'Connor and Tom Kenny are blessed with the athleticism of 400m runners and are in the Gordon D'Arcy class beside when it comes to breaking the tackle; Fitzpatrick doesn't have the upper body strength to either break the tackle or prevent opponents bustling by him. Also, where Fitzpatrick will hope to be quick to the loose ball, O'Connor and Kenny are blessed with the range and the legs both to supplement their defence . . . watch out for O'Connor popping up on his own 21; he was the nearest colleague when Brian Murphy, back in the left corner, began the move that led to Ben's goal in the Munster final . . . and to operate as a seventh man in attack when they carry the ball forward. When he's not performing duties as Fitzpatrick's bouncer, Derek Lyng will also venture upfield. Always looks to land a point when he does so. Frequently succeeds.

Advantage none CORK HALF-FORWARDS V KILKENNY HALF-BACKS Timmy McCarthy, Niall McCarthy and Ben O'Connor v James Ryall, John Tennyson and Jackie Tyrrell No worries about any of the Kilkenny trio when they're facing the ball; the serious questions surround what will happen when James Ryall and Jackie Tyrrell, who was switched to left half-back for the second half against Clare, are turned.

Likewise if John Tennyson embarks on a sally up the field, which was the genesis of Rory Jacob's goal in the Leinster final. Tennyson will also have to decide what to do when Niall McCarthy goes walkabout: follow him and in the process play into Cork's hands, or stand his ground, as Ken McGrath largely did in the semi-final, and trust his midfield will drop back and cover for him? Timmy McCarthy . . . the Leeside, or rather Blackwater, equivalent of Ryall when it comes to the phrase 'much maligned' has an impressive scoring record at Croke Park in September; a combined 0-3 from play from him and Neil Ronan will be a requirement as the champions bid to compile the total that will see them over the finishing line. Our old pal Martin White, who featured when red and white met black and amber three times 75 years ago, popped up during the week to muse upon the inadvisability of weakening a line (ie the Kilkenny half-back line) by withdrawing one of its strongest performers (ie Master T Walsh). Quite. Then again, Brian Cody was damned if he did and damned if he didn't.

Advantage none CORK FULL-FORWARDS V KILKENNY FULL-BACKS Neil Ronan, Brian Corcoran (left) and Joe Deane v Tommy Walsh, Noel Hickey and Michael Kavanagh The gravest area of concern for the challengers. Will Walsh, no man-marker despite the range and opulence of his other gifts, spend so much time hitting the ball, should he start in the corner, that he leaves his man unattended? Has Michael Kavanagh the legs to take after his marker when the latter roams outfield or will he opt to play his position instead? Can Noel Hickey bounce back from his unhappy afternoon against Brian Corcoran here two years ago? Yes is the answer to that last one, for Hickey unquestionably possesses the mettle. But Corcoran converts an inordinately high percentage of his attempts at the posts, and at lineballs watch for the Cork corner-forward on the near side to take his marker for a walk, leaving the full-forward to make a run towards the sideline, fill the vacated space and beat his man to the incoming delivery. The fact that neither Kilkenny corner-back is a man-marker from the Damien Reale school constitutes joyous tidings for Deane; given the right ball, nobody reduces the game to its simplicities so joyously as he does. Walsh's first and last duty today is to subordinate his free spirit to the collective good, much as Liam Dunne did for Wexford 10 years ago.

Advantage Cork

VIEW FROM THE EXPERTS

WHAT ARE CORK'S RESPECTIVE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES?
WHAT ARE KILKENNY'S RESPECTIVE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES?
WHO ARE THE KEY MEN AND IN WHAT AREAS ARE THE CRUCIAL BATTLES?

EOIN KELLY (Tipperary) Lost to Cork, 2-14 to 1-14 in the Munster final before being eliminated by Waterford The whole country knows the key to Cork is their defence and especially the diamond of their midfield and their half-back line.

Kilkenny will be looking to break that down but not many teams have managed it. In fact, in many cases a lot of teams have been dominated there. Then there's the half-forward line who have gone unnoticed but are capable of a lot of scores.

They look a bit weak, all of a sudden, now that JJ Delaney is gone from the full-back line. And I know John Tennyson made it for the game but he'll still be a little wary of that shoulder that got injured.

So they're not shaping up as they'd like and they might be a little vulnerable at the back.

The likes of Henry Shefflin won't start at wing-forward. I think he'll play most of it between centre-forward and full-forward. Kilkenny will hope he'll win ball and be able fire over a few long range scores. If he did play wing-forward, Sean Og would have to be the man to pick him up and he's the best man-marker around. But Eddie Brennan has pace too and will be closely watched. So they'll be key because Kilkenny need more than two goals to win.

KENMcGRATH (Waterford) Fell to Cork by just a single point, 1-16 to 1-15 in the All Ireland semi-final Well I think going for three in a row says it all. How many weaknesses can a side with that sort of a record have? They don't panic when things go against them, they stick to their own style and are largely unfazed. It's hard because of all that but you have to worry about your own game or you're beaten before you start. That's the best way to go at them and Kilkenny can't be there worrying about any player.

Henry Shefflin is playing the best he has for a long time and to say that about someone of his standing means he's been special. A lot will be going through him but he'll find the Cork backs tough to get scores off. Some of the Kilkenny backs are playing in their first All Ireland final. People are saying they are there to be caught and the Cork forwards have that experience.

Whoever is on Henry will automatically be involved in a key battle.

Cha Fitz had a great game the last day but the two boys for Cork, Jerry O'Connor and Tom Kenny, have been strong for three years now. Midfield is a vital position as well. I know this sounds stupid but all over the pitch will be vital to the outcome because you are dealing with so many quality players who can take advantage to such a degree.

GERFARRAGHER (Galway) Beaten by Kilkenny in All Ireland quarterfinal, 2-22 to 3-14 Straight away, I don't think Cork have a weakness but the engine for them is the half-back line and the midfield. That's where a lot of teams dominate the game from and a lot of their energy has come from Ronan Curran who has been outstanding. The only way to get by those backs is probably to get fast ball into the full-forward line. The Kilkenny forwards are fast and they might catch them there.

They never seem to panic. Around the middle they always seem to be onto the breaking ball and when we played them they won a lot more than we did and that gave them a huge advantage. But JJ is gone and he's one of the best defenders in Ireland. He'd be a loss to any team and against Cork of all sides that was the last thing they needed. Also, John Tennyson is playing the best he ever has and being injured for a few weeks won't help him much.

The key is with Shefflin. I can't see him scoring 1-13 again because he won't be allowed that much space, but if he can get some room, he's lethal. If that happened Kilkenny have a great chance but the flip-side is if he struggles. Then Kilkenny are in huge trouble.

NIALL GILLIGAN (Clare) Faced up to both of today's sides, losing to Cork and ultimately Kilkenny They are All Ireland champions for the last two years but while people say the weakness is in the forwards, it hasn't been shown up that often. Their strength has to be the half-back line, the midfield and the keeper. They are very balanced and because of that it's hard to get one over them in any sector and that makes them a difficult team to put away.

We had Kilkenny opened up well in the first half and I guess we were very unlucky not to get a couple more goals. JJ Delaney is a big loss but there is Michael Kavanagh to come in and he's a very good hurler and not a bad replacement. Henry Shefflin looks the main danger though and if Cork can close him down they'll have a serious chance.

Kilkenny will try and use Shefflin again in the roaming role and there'll be guys marking him who'll have to get on top and limit him. He ran in 1-6 from play and seven frees against us and if he does that today Kilkenny will win the All Ireland. Whether they'll man-mark him or let everyone pick him up will have a big bearing.

With me, I'd have him man-marked.

DAMIEN FITZHENRY (Wexford) A bad day at the office saw them taken apart by Kilkenny in the Leinster decider Everybody has been talking about the strengths of the Cork halfback line for a long time now and if anyone is going to beat them they are going to have break them down there and maybe get a few scores from those positions. They'll have to get close to Henry Shefflin but he'll be moved around as well and when he moves inside, the full-back line have to contain him.

If you ask anyone from Wexford what the Kilkenny weaknesses are, they won't be talking for very long. We didn't find too many. Shefflin, with the way he's been playing, is the best hurler of the year so far. If Cork are to come out on top they'll have to shackle Henry down a good bit and make sure they can minimise the effect he has on the game. Otherwise they could be in trouble.

The Cork half-back line will have a key battle with the halfforwards from Kilkenny. Another one will be Noel Hickey who I think will pick up Brian Corcoran and how he does could have a huge bearing. They are probably the two most important duels on the pitch and if one side can come out on top in both those areas, that'll be that.

TJRYA N (Limerick) Surprised Cork by running them to just a single point in the All Ireland quarter-final I suppose the fact Cork have a very settled team that have pulled a lot of results out of the fire means a lot to them. They've been on the road a while and they always perform, their consistency is a huge weapon. There's talk that the full-back line isn't what it was and maybe that's where Kilkenny will have to target them but they still aren't giving away all that many goals.

Kilkenny have found a few players and their attack is something that will leave them very confident. There is always a goal threat and they can kill off teams very quickly. At the other end, they've lost JJ Delaney but they can bring in players. If you look at a lot of matches you'll see different weaknesses but they never creep up very often so there's nothing there that is a persistent problem.

If the the Kilkenny half-forwards can win ball off the Cork halfbacks that will be a big one for them. The same probably applies for Cork. Whichever side can gain an advantage there will be on the forward foot straight away.

VERDICT CORK They should have three or four to spare.

They seem so driven. JJ Delaney is a huge loss and this Cork team seem to be so professional in every position and they'll deserve it for the amount of effort they've put into it.

CORK It'll be three or four points. To be honest, I reckon they are the better team and are more settled. I know we won three in a row with the club a while back and the last was the easiest because the expectation wasn't as bad.

CORK Only just. This team is the best side we've seen in a long time and they'll be thoroughly deserving of a three in a row.

KILKENNY Everyone I talk to is saying Cork but I just have a sneaky feeling. It'll be by a very small margin, maybe a point. The Kilkenny team we played will really want to stop Cork and that might be enough to get them over the line.

CORK They'll do it by three or four points. They are just that bit more balanced. Kilkenny have some young guys coming in and some of them didn't do so well against us so the jury is still out on them.

CORK Only by a point or two but going for the three in row, it's obvious that it's been in their heads since the start of the year.

They won't admit if but this is what they are after and they won't let it get away.

Interviews by Ewan MacKenna