Mayo team: Dermot Geraghty replaces Conor Moran at right corner back in the Mayo team to face Kerry in Sunday's All-Ireland final. This is the only alteration to the team that started the semi-final replay against Fermanagh. The Shrule-Glencorrib defender, who will also line out in the All-Ireland under-21 final against Armagh, obviously did enough to convince the selectors with his second-half performance in Moran's position against Fermanagh.

It is Geraghty's first full start since the New York game last May. Ironically, he lost out to Moran in the subsequent marquee game against Galway. Moran held his place through the championship until last night's announcement at McHale Park.

Although an uncomfortable first half against Fermanagh meant Moran's place was deemed to be under slight threat, the elevation of Geraghty underlines the faith this Mayo team has in its young players.

It is understandable that manager John Maughan and company were keen to alter the make-up of the team that struggled over two weekends to overcome the Fermanagh challenge, something the Mayo manager has persistently alluded to in the build-up to this game.

"The fact that we struggled against Fermanagh, and Kerry played so brilliantly in their defeat of Derry, means people recognise they are the clear favourites. People have been very patient and we have appealed to them to keep their feet on the ground.

"We have won nothing - we are as far away from winning an All-Ireland now as we were at the start of February to be realistic. We are in with a chance. I think the disappointment people felt in 1997 means that they were inclined to keep the lid on things."

Fergal Kelly keeps his place at centrefield after coming in for David Brady in the Fermanagh semi-final replay. Brady had been under pressure after the Tyrone match despite scoring three points as his work-rate faded towards the end of the match.

Kelly's partnership with Ronan McGarrity demonstrated a greater industry and the Ballyhaunis man holds the place.

But given Brady's experience, strength and facility for kicking scores this season, he will probably be introduced as a replacement when Kelly starts to tire - as happened in the Fermanagh replay.

Elsewhere, the team runs along familiar lines, with Ciarán McDonald the centre of a glittering attack whose only black mark has been a conspicuous absence of championship goals. That deficit is something which the management is aware of and they are keen to atone for before the curtain closes on the season come Sunday night.

"It has certainly come to our attention," Maughan said. "We do spend a lot of time shooting and setting up goal opportunities in training. We had opportunities against Fermanagh in particular - maybe in hindsight, Austin (O'Malley) had an opportunity to score a goal but the solid option was to tap it over the bar.

"I do agree - we will need a goal, at least one, if we are to win the All-Ireland.

"You must recognise as well - go back to Fermanagh and even now people find it difficult to accept how good they were. They played for the here and now. They were living in the present and they were exceptionally difficult, very tight in defence. So it was hard to set up goal opportunities."

Because team captain Fergal Costello has been unable to regain his place, there are four survivors from the Mayo team that lost the county's last final to Kerry in 1997 - David Heaney, McDonald, James Nallen and Peter Burke.

With Kerry also announcing a team last night, Maughan was adamant they (Kerry) deserved their favourite's tag, regardless of key absentees.

"In the All-Ireland semi-final against Derry, Kerry did what they had to do without their best player, Seamus Moynihan, and Darragh Ó Sé having to come off. They have managed it brilliantly.

"You know, Kerry have this uncanny knack of always holding something in reserve for the final onslaught, for that final month and they will do the same this year.

"There is another 15 or 20 per cent in that team and I think we will see them come with a real swagger on September 26th. So what happened before Sunday counts for nought, we know that."