Cross aim for fourth All-Ireland

Oisin McConville has already won three All-Ireland Club medals

Croke Park
Saturday, 17 March
Throw-in: 1400 GMT
Live on BBC Radio Ulster MW and this website

Crossmaglen face a huge challenge to maintain their 100 per cent record in All-Ireland Club Football finals on Saturday against Dr Crokes (1400 GMT).

The Armagh club have won their three previous finals over the past 10 years.

However, Dr Crokes will have Kerry stars Colm Cooper and Eoin Brosnan on duty at Croke Park in the AIB decider.

It remains to be seen who will be delegated to shadow the outstanding Cooper with Francie Bellew and Paul Kernan among the contenders.

Kernan was outstanding in restricting Ballinderry's Conleth Gilligan in the Ulster final in December but he missed the All-Ireland semi-final win over St Brigid's because of an arm injury and his fitness has remained in some doubt in the run-up to Saturday's decider.

If Kernan does miss out, the redoubtable Bellew could be handed the uneviable task of shackling the 'Gooch'.

However, Oisin McConville pointed out earlier this week that trying to keep Cooper in check is essentially damage limitation.

If decent ball is directed towards Cooper, he is almost unmarkable so the key is ensuring that the Crokes star is starved of possession.

Therefore as ever, the battle in the middle third of the field is likely to decide the destination of the Andy Merrigan Cup.

Colm Cooper is Dr Crokes' star player

Eoin Brosnan and Ambrose O'Donovan form a solid midfield partnership and it will be interesting to see whether Donal Murtagh opts to continue with David McKenna and Stephen Clarke at centrefield after their outstanding form against St Brigid's.

Murtagh has other options in the shape of John McEntee and Stephen Kernan, with the latter having operated in midfield for most of this year's campaign.

Crokes are competing in their second All-Ireland decider and their manager Pat O'Shea, who is also now Kerry boss, played on the team which defeated Dublin outfit Thomas Davis in 1992.

The Killarney club actually didn't win last year's Kerry title but they represented the Kingdom in the provincial championship as county kingpins South Kerry are ineligible for the competition.

Their victims in Munster included last year's provincial winners Nemo Rangers so Crossmaglen will have huge respect for the Kerry side.

However, Crossmaglen teams have always held their nerve on St Patrick's Day and it's difficult to back against them on this occasion.

The Cross side have those experienced campaigners in Oisin McConville, Bellew, Paul Hearty, the McEntee twins and the three Kernans but the performances of youngsters such as David McKenna and Johnny Hanratty has given the Armagh side an added vibrancy this year.

With both defences renowned for giving little away, don't expect a high-scoring game but Cross get the vote to edge a tight verdict.

In the hurling decider, Kilkenny club Ballyhale Shamrock will face Galway outfit Loughrea (1540).

Loughrea defeated Ulster champions Cushendall in the semi-finals last month.