Kenneth Mortimer

Age: 25

Position: Centre forward

Debut: 1995 Connacht semi-final v Roscommon

Championship Appearances: 16 Scored: 0-4

Honours: Connacht SFC; 3 (1996, '97 and '99). All Stars; 2 (1996, '97).

Background: A graduate of the famous Galway footballing academy St Jarlath's in Tuam, he had a successful under-age career and captained the Mayo under-21s to the 1995 All-Ireland final from centre back. Originally played his club football in Shrule but switched last year to Claremorris where he works.

Strengths: As a corner back he was never exposed for lack of pace and this speed combined with a good football intelligence helps him read the breaking ball and gather possession. Comfortable and confident on the ball, he's able to run at defences and create openings for colleagues. He has the added advantage of being defensively aware because of his past and he has a proven temperament on the big stage with a track record of playing well at Croke Park.

Weaknesses: It's his first season in attack and he lacks experience at picking up good positions and leading his forwards. He's also not tall and may prove vulnerable under high ball. The jury's out on his ability to sustain stamina in a central position which is unlike corner back where you get the odd break in a game. He's also unproven as a scorer.

Mortimer v Sexton: After a mediocre Connacht final, Mortimer will be under pressure to deliver a strong performance tomorrow, but he may have a slight advantage in that he has played consistently well at Croke Park and has the experience of big-time matches. He didn't cope that well with John Divilly's distribution into the Galway forwards in the first half and Sexton is at least as accurate a kicker.

Owen Sexton

Age: 24

Position: Centre back

Debut: 1997 Munster semi-final v Clare

Championship Appearances: 4

Scored: 0-0

Honours: Munster SFC; 1 (1999). NFL; 1 (1999)

Background: From Kilbrittan, the only west Cork club with a bias towards hurling, he is the first club member to play senior football for the county. Cork Young Footballer of the Year in 1996, he also won a minor All-Ireland in 1993. His great granduncle Mick Mehigan captained Cork to the 1911 All-Ireland and his brother PD was The Irish Times's first GAA correspondent.

Strengths: Like Mortimer, he is very familiar with defensive skills because of his similar background as a corner back. His man-to-man marking without fouling has been excellent and combines with exceptional pace off the mark. He is well capable of covering the open space within his area of operations and picking up loose ball. A fine ball-player, he is able to pick out his team-mates with accurate clearances.

Weaknesses: This is his first year at centre back and he has so far been fortunate to play behind a winning midfield. How will he react if his midfield is over-run? Sometimes he can venture too far up the field and leaves the central corridor open and untended.

Sexton v Mortimer: This will be his first outing at such an advanced level in Croke Park, but he didn't shirk his responsibility in the Munster final. Maybe he benefited psychologically because Kerry's first-choice centre forward, Noel Kennelly, was injured and this helped his confidence but he is an impressive defender who will also test Mortimer going forward.

In an interview with Sean Moran