Dermot Earley - Club: Sarsfields. Age: 20. Occupation: Army officer. Height: 6' 1". Weight: 11st 8lbs. Honours: Leinster SFC '98.

Best performance: "I enjoyed the second Dublin game, I must say. But we had a lot of special moments this year. The feeling immediately after the whistle went in the Leinster final is something which I think will stay with a lot of the players and the whole occasion of the All-Ireland semi-final was very memorable as well. Team wise, we showed a lot of spirit in the Leinster final. I think we felt we had the ability to beat Dublin, but against Meath they came from three points down to draw level and I think we decided that what happened last year was not going to be repeated. Once we got the goal, that was it."

Most disappointing performance. "Because I'm fresh on the team, my experience with Kildare has been extremely positive. But I know that the loss to Meath last year was extremely tough to take and the lads have shown great courage in bouncing back."

What has been the difference for Kildare this year? "I think that there is a very impressive fighting spirit, a sort of `you will not put us down' mentality. I think last year in the game against Laois, it was basically the same team except for one or two - I wasn't playing then - but it seemed as though the players came to the conclusion that they either had to step up in that game, give their hearts to the cause, or fold. I think that's where it might have started, that Kildare have been building on that since."

Opposing views: Tommy Carr (Dublin manager): "For such a young player who has come on the scene so recently he's shown remarkable maturity and even with his inexperience I think he will be one of the big factors for Kildare on Sunday. Obviously there for his fielding, but he's also so energetic and uses the ball so well. His scoring has perhaps let him down in some games, but I would still expect him to put a lot of pressure on Galway in both defending and attacking terms."

Enda McManus (Meath half back): "Very mobile for such a big man and though he may be a bit light, he can field with the best of them. Fit as a fiddle as well and I didn't spot any weakness in his game, although he may not attack as often as he could. His reliability means Kildare won't have to concentrate on midfield and that's very important for their style of play. An essential member of their squad."

Sean Og De Paor - Club: An Ceathru Rua. Age: 27. Occupation: Teacher. Height 5' 9 1/2". Weight: 12st 9lbs. Honours: Connacht SFC 1995, `98; Sigerson Cup (UCG captain 1992).

Best performance: "I think that came with beating Mayo. They had been in the All-Ireland final for the previous two years and while I don't think we feared them, facing them in the opening round of the Championship was a daunting task. The fact that we are close neighbours added to the intensity. That said, Roscommon were the toughest team we have faced to date. Everyone had written them off before the final, but we knew them as a good side and they certainly proved that over the two games. Those were tough games and we were relieved to come through in extra time."

Most disappointing performance: "Although we won the game against Leitrim fairly comfortably in the end, both teams were fairly flat throughout. As a spectacle it never lived up to the hype and, like Leitrim, we made a number of unforced errors."

What has made the difference for Galway this year? "I think the young guys coming into the panel have responded very well to the pressures involved with a debut season and have spurred on the more senior members. Five or six lads have joined the side with a history of winning at underage level and Sigerson and naturally brought an added degree of enthusiasm with them. Also, we put in a tremendous amount of winter work. Getting to the League quarter-final gave us a wee boost. Okay, we were beaten, but it was like a bit of light at the end of the tunnel and set us up for the summer."

Opposing views: John Maughan (Mayo manager): "I've always admired Sean as one of the most disciplined and talented players in the country. Exceptionally fit, he's very quick to the break of the ball. David Nestor did cause him a few problems in our game and he does have a tendency to drift too far up the field, but that takes nothing away from his leadership abilities and there's no questioning his vital role in this Galway team."

George Dugdale (Leitrim half forward): "Most importantly, he is defensively tight and also adds a new dimension to the Galway attack as his scoring ability has shown all summer. Very mobile and strong, he can come too far forward, but even as a back he can provide a foundation to their attack."