All-Ireland SFC Final Countdown: Seán Moranprofiles Cork's centre half back, who aims to repay on Sunday the faith invested in him

There are three All Stars on the current Cork team.

Anthony Lynch and Nicholas Murphy have been around since Cork's last All-Ireland final appearance in 1999 but the third is Ger Spillane, who accomplished the feat in his debut season last year.

For many people he first appeared on the radar 14 months ago in the drawn Munster final in Killarney during which he earned the man-of-the-match citation.

Spillane combines the traditionally steely virtues of a holding centre back - strength and aerial ability - with a fondness for adventure. He's also the classic example of the junior club player for whom recognition comes slowly despite having won two All-Irelands at the grade.

"The first time I really noticed him," says Cork manager Billy Morgan, "was when I was training the Nemo under-21s and we were playing Ballygarvan. Nemo had a good team and won that year's under-21 championship. But for a long time Ballygarvan led and it was basically Ger Spillane against Nemo. He was playing midfield.

"I'm not sure if he ever came into Larry's (his predecessor as manager Larry Tompkins) plans but as soon as we took over, we brought him in. He did his knee when we were training out in La Manga but he eventually rejoined the training panel. We'd had a look at the older players in the panel and decided to start from scratch so we brought him in at centre back last season."

That selection helped lock what has been the best defence in the game over the past two seasons although the likely loss of Anthony Lynch has, as with last year's cruciate injury to Graham Canty, disrupted the unit.

Spillane points out that the whole team plays a role in the defensive solidity.

"It isn't just our backs," he says, "everyone works in defence. Our forwards are very good to track back and follow their men and our two midfielders work hard. But I suppose it'll count for nothing if we leave in two goals in the All-Ireland final."

Spillane's displays haven't been quite as formidable this championship but according to Morgan the player has adjusted well to his higher profile as a player even if form dipped occasionally.

"He probably has suffered a bit of second-season syndrome but the performance against Meath in the semi-final indicated that he's back to his best."

Like most of the team, Spillane is facing into his first senior All-Ireland and is glad to pick up advice on the occasion and its demands not just from the longer-standing members of the football panel but also from the county's hurlers, who had been September fixtures for the past four years up until this season.

"It's been a few years and things have changed and progressed but they (players like Murphy, Lynch and Owen Sexton) have talked about it alright and it's a big help. Talking to the hurlers too, they passed on their experience - it's a long time since 99 and handy to be able to talk to them."

According to his manager, Spillane's influence on the team is primarily based on performance and in terms of onfield leadership although his fondness for counterattack did have to be addressed.

"He's a quiet man," says Morgan, "but to meet him you'd know that he's a strong character. As a player he has a great engine and can get up and down all day. He's also physically strong and good in the air - ideal for the position - and doesn't get fazed. He's unexcitable.

"He likes to go forward and we did have to rein that in a bit because he has a tendency to go too far, to get in front of the ball. Against Dublin in the League he went galloping off and leaving the ball behind against Jayo (Sherlock) and we emphasised the point.

"Since then he probably is playing it more defensively although against Louth he was getting forward a bit too early."

Playing the old enemy in an All-Ireland final is a strange experience for both teams.

Spillane says that there is awareness of the fact that Kerry are on course to relieve Cork of their claim to have been the last county to successfully defend the Sam Maguire, something they achieved during Morgan's previous tenure as manager.

"There's a bit of that but we're just hoping to win our own All-Ireland. Kerry are going for their two-in-a-row and Billy was the last one to do that as a manager. It would be a nice way of repaying him."

Ger Spillane

Club: Ballygarvan

Height: 6 ft 1 in

Weight: 13 st

Age: 26

Honours: All-Ireland JFC 2001, '05, Munster SFC 2006, All Star 2006.