Tyrone v Monaghan:In a throwaway remark this week the Tyrone forward Stephen O'Neill hit on one of the defining factors of this game. "We know right well how tough Monaghan will be," he said, "because they have one of the best trainers around in Martin McElkennon."
McElkennon's reputation now precedes him, and Monaghan will be finely tuned for their quest to secure a first Ulster title in 19 years.
Manager Séamus McEnaney also lives and breathes football, and there's an unmistakable confidence in the whole Monaghan set-up. This is a game they believe they can win.
They've earned that confidence with deserved wins over Down and Derry. There's a real settled look about their unchanged team, with Damien Freeman operating so well in the half-back line, Eoin Lennon lording things at midfield, and Thomas Freeman, Ciarán Hanratty and Stephen Gollogly leading the scoring charge up front.
However, forward Paul Finlay, who took ill just before that semi-final win over Derry, hasn't yet fully recovered.
But everything else about Monaghan's preparations suggests they are up to the challenge.
Yet what a challenge it is! Just when it seemed Tyrone were slipping as an All-Ireland force they inflicted a crushing defeat on Donegal in the semi-final four weeks ago.
It was vintage Tyrone, captain Brian Dooher leading the charge by kicking five sweet scores.
Dooher has, however, been struggling with a leg injury while O'Neill has failed to fully shake off the knee and hamstring injuries that have again limited his role this summer.
They have been boosted by Gerard Cavlan's return - he comes in at left half forward in place of Enda McGinley - and make two other changes from the last game, Kevin Hughes moving from midfield to full forward, replacing Colm Cavanagh, and Joe McMahon coming in to partner Seán Cavanagh at midfield.
Few football teams in the land can rival Tyrone's ferocious intensity and pace but Monaghan are probably now one of them. That should guarantee a riveting Ulster final.
TYRONE: J Devine; R McMenamin, C Gourley, D Carlin; D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan; J McMahon, S Cavanagh; B Dooher, R Mulgrew, G Cavlan; C McCullagh, K Hughes, O Mulligan.
MONAGHAN: S Duffy; D Mone, V Corey, D McArdle; D Morgan, G McQuaid, D Freeman; E Lennon, JP Mone; D Clerkin, S Smyth, S Gollogly; C Hanratty, R Woods, T Freeman.
Clones, 2.15pm
