Under-21 Munster and Ulster football finals

MUNSTER UNDER-21 FC FINAL – Kerry v Cork, Austin Stack Park, 7.30

Whatever about the extraordinarily one-sided outcome of last year’s Munster final – which saw Cork beat Kerry 2-24 to 0-8 – it’s safe to assume things will be a little closer this time.

Kerry have certainly beefed up their backroom team, with manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice, the three-time senior All-Ireland winner, now joined by Darragh Ó Sé, holder of six All-Ireland medals, in what is his first managerial role with any Kerry team.

Kerry also have home advantage this time, and Fitzmaurice, not surprisingly, has named an unchanged team from the side which fairly destroyed Waterford at the semi-final stage a fortnight ago, 4-26 to 1-4, in what was an obvious declaration of their intentions.

The full-forward line of Kieran Hurley, Conor Cox and Ian Galvin registered a total of 3-13 that day, and should prove an obvious handful.

Cork manager John Cleary has made two changes from the team that defeated Clare with similar ease in their semi-final match: injured midfielder Rory O’Sullivan is replaced by Eoin Healy, while captain Donal Óg Hodnett returns to the side having missed the semi-final through injury, and is named at centre forward.

The winners can also look forward to playing newly-crowned Leinster champions Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final, and that might just prove enough incentive for Kerry – as if they didn’t have enough already.

ULSTER UNDER-21 FC FINAL – Tyrone v Cavan, Brewster Park, 8.0

Tyrone’s typically ominous run to this evening’s final suggests they’ll be hard to stop now but then some people might have thought the same this time year, only for Cavan to beat them.

So they get to meet again, in the same venue as last year, and this is actually Cavan’s third final appearance in succession.

As defending champions they’ll no doubt be given the full respect by Tyrone, but their form hasn’t been quite as convincing as last year.

In fact Cavan needed a late goal to overcome Derry, 2-8 to 1-9, in their semi-final, having failed to score in the last 15 minutes of the first half.

The sides appeared to be inseparable as extra-time loomed until Kevin Tierney popped up with the decisive goal, his second of the evening to seal a well-earned victory.

Tyrone meanwhile were highly impressive in their 0-16 to 1-8 triumph over Down, with Darren McCurry, Caolan Daly and Conor McAliskey all suggesting that the Tyrone conveyor belt of underage talent is back in full swing once again.

Cavan may have the inspiration of last year to call on for this challenge this evening, but Tyrone it seems have the hunger again.