Camogie/All-Ireland final: The centrepiece of camogie's centenary year has a familiar but welcome look to it. The game's pre-eminent modern rivals have pushed the sport forward and established a pocketful of new stars. When Cork and Tipperary meet tomorrow the game will have as much context as any meeting between those two counties should have.
Cork put an end to Tipp's four-in-a-row quest two years ago and were taken to the cleaners themselves by Tipp in last year's final. Both sides have their motivations.
And their renovations. To a full-forward line which was already so sharp you could cut yourself on it, Tipperary have had the luxury of adding Saudi-born Jill Horan. Horan, operating from the corner, has stitched 3-9 into various teams through the championship.
The Cork full-back line has made what alterations it can for the onslaught, with Spethanie Dunlea shifting from left-corner back to the edge of the square in a swap with Rosarie Holland.
Cork beat Tipp (3-7 to 1-6) in the round-robin section of the league, while Tipp gained revenge when beating the Rebelettes in the Munster final. Somehow this year Cork haven't looked as sharp. They were beaten by an upcoming Wexford side to finish a league campaign which had included a surprisingly easy defeat of a rusty Tipp side. They met Tipp in the Munster final and were beaten by one point.
Apart from a nimble full-forward line which has claimed 10-14 in four championship games to date Tipperary have experience. Since Michael Cleary led the team to the county's first All-Ireland in 1999, the side has scarcely changed. Tomorrow, 11 of that breakthrough side will start.
Cork are considerably overhauled on both sides of the line since last year's final. New manager John Considine has brought in several new faces and the team retains only eight of last year's final line-up. The changes are brought about out of necessity (the team has suffered a raft of injuries) and out of the search for more creativity.
Their strengths are broadly the same with a tough midfield and good hurling half backs. The half-back line of Paula O'Connor (looking to bring even further glory to Newtownshandrum after the success of her brothers Ben and Jerry last week) Regina Curtin, and Rena Buckley is combative and Tipp will be hoping to drop a considerable amount of ball in over their heads. In the event of that not being possible Tipp have restored Joanne Ryan to the centre forward position in place of Emile Hayden and her battle with Mary O'Connor will be a key one.
Narrow wins over Wexford and Kilkenny will have taught Tipp much.
That whetting of their edge and the natural hunger which the red jersey provokes should be enough tomorrow.
TIPPERARY: J Delaney; S Kelly, U O'Dwyer, J Kirwan; S Nealon, C Gaynor, T Brophy; A McDermott, P Fogarty; N Kennedy, J Ryan, C Grogan; E McDonnell, D Hughes, J Horan.
CORK: A Murray; J O'Calllaghan, S Dunlea, R Holland; P O'Connor, M O'Connor, R Buckley; V Harris, G O'Connor; R Moloney, E Dillon, J O'Leary; U O'Donoghue, E Dillon, C Desmond.
Croke Park, Tomorrow
Junior: Cork v Down
(Throw-in - 1 p.m.)
Senior: Cork v Tipperary
(Throw-in - 3.30 p.m.)
On TV: Network 2
