This game promises to follow in that tradition of cracking Armagh-Kerry games and cracking club finals. Aspects of both teams' style might rankle with the purists, but these are two sides who know how to play and how to win.

For one, they don't concede goals. Crokes haven't conceded any in their last six games in this campaign and have only once conceded more than eight points since the county final, while Crossmaglen have kept three consecutive clean sheets.

Crokes have scored at least a goal in all of the 10 games it's taken them to get to Croke Park in this campaign and only twice have they failed to score at least two goals. They have some delightful forwards in Kieran O'Leary and, of course, Colm Cooper (right), but as a unit, that forward line, especially the half-forward line, is too light. While the wide open expanses of Croke Park will suit them, Cross have too much physical power and guile to allow them dominate.

There's a delicate line between believing in yourself and believing in your own hype. Cross fell into the latter trap against Portlaoise two years ago but we can't see it happening again. They have the wider scoring spread, the greater capacity to win ball around the middle, and the players and system to restrict, though not fully hold, Cooper. Club finals have a tendency to deviate from what you expect, but Cross are about the surest thing there is in football. Crossmaglen by the usual goal.

Verdict Crossmaglen