Gaelic Games News round-upEoin "Bomber" Liston and Niall Cahalane have not been under the media spotlight for several seasons. But for them it's just like riding a bike; you never forget how.

The Kerry and Cork legends were in Croke Park to promote the O'Neills Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland football sevens and also to discuss their own counties' chances of prevailing on Sunday week. The trick here is to subtly talk down your own crowd - or at least not to praise them too highly.

They sat side by side in RTÉ's executive box, with journalists gathered round, and it made for some lively exchanges.

For the uninitiated, the Bomber played for Kerry in seven All-Ireland finals between 1978 and 1986, winning six medals. After that great team's decline, Cork and Meath vied for supremacy, and Cahalane lined out in four straight finals from 1987 to 1990, picking up two winner's medals.

Liston threw in the ball yesterday by branding Cork favourites, but when Cahalane took his place alongside on the couch the Kerryman changed tack: "I think the two hard matches Kerry had against Monaghan and Dublin were worth 15 training sessions. Our lads seem to have that bit more experience. I think we have a little advantage in the forward line. Their backs have had a fabulous year - some great players - but that is why I think Kerry might just pip it."

Then comes the topic journalists have been keen to broach with the Bomber since Kieran Donaghy exploded on the scene. What Donaghy did in 2006 is reminiscent of Liston's devouring of the Dubs in the 1978 final.

"He has just been incredible since he went in full forward," says Liston. "I've seen him growing up . . . He's an exceptional talent: very fast, massive vision, totally unselfish, great agility. We're just delighted he's a Kerryman.

"He takes huge pressure off the Gooch (Colm Cooper). It's so tight now to get that few yards free. At times players from the half-back line and midfield don't have time to be picking targets and have to just lamp it in. It's the same option Cork have with (Michael) Cussen."

Liston is asked to react to criticism of Kerry football and in particular Séamus Moynihan by the Sunday newspaper columnist and former Meath player Liam Hayes.

"I haven't seen a better player than Séamus Moynihan," he responds. "I played with Jacko (Jack O'Shea), who I thought was the best player I've ever seen. I couldn't say he was better than Séamus.

"In one year alone he won East Kerry championship, county championship, Munster final, All-Ireland final and Railway Cup and captained Ireland . . . That wasn't a coincidence. I haven't seen a better player."

Kerry are attempting to become the first team to successfully defend an All-Ireland since Cahalane was corner back in 1990.

"It may bring a little pressure on Kerry to become the first team in 16 or 17 years to win back-to-back All-Irelands," says the Corkman.

Liston, not unnaturally, demurs.

"I think there is enough pressure in an All-Ireland final in itself that every player going out there is focusing: trying to get himself just absolutely right. Most things happen in an instant so once they cross the white line I don't think it will have a huge . . .

"Now you could go back to the five-in-a-row. Did that bring pressure on us? It probably got to us a bit and I'm not taking from Offaly but it was a pressure game. But this is a huge pressure game for both of them. For bragging rights alone, it's the one time they've met in the final, and that's enough pressure.

"How lads handle that on the day will decide who wins this game."

What if there had been a back-door back in their day?

"No doubt we would have made up a good few finals," says Liston. "If we had got a second chance, we might have come in during their reign where they (Cork) beat us four or five years in a row."

"There was still only a kick of the ball in it," Cahalane interjects. "All those games were very tight."

The what-if scenario finally comes to pass on September 16th.