GAELIC GAMES:WE'VE FINALLY got a National League final with two teams deserving of being here. Particularly Dublin, who have gone undefeated throughout what has undoubtedly been their most impressive pre-championship campaign for many, many years.

We are constantly informed about the vast depth of the Cork panel. This will be forensically examined tomorrow.

The defending champions arrive at this juncture heavily depleted due to injury and the under-21 championship. The underage players like Aidan Walsh and Ciarán Sheehan are already vital to their set-up. Sheehan may feature despite an ankle injury but Paul Kerrigan seems another significant loss. So too is the suspended Eoin Cadogan and while their cover in defence is strong they will also miss the organisational force that is Graham Canty as Dublin tend to attack with pace, through the middle, using short hand passing. They will target the experienced yet out-of-position John Miskella at centre back.

I still think Cork will not be unduly bothered despite so many absentees. When you win an All-Ireland the whole group gets a feeling of liberation that is usually reflected on the field. Confidence levels tend to soar.

This was very obvious down here in Tralee during the league as Donnacha O’Connor and Daniel Goulding dismantled the Kerry defence.

Simply put, players tend to improve once they have pocketed a Celtic Cross. Belief in their own abilities becomes unquestioned. Just look at O’Connor coming off the bench to register 2-3 against Armagh. Good players edge closer to greatness once an All-Ireland has been attained. At the very least they expect consistent excellence of themselves.

To Dublin. A much-changed Dublin to what we had grown accustomed to in recent years. Pat Gilroy’s objective is to be able to rely upon 24 players that are all capable of contributing in the championship. That he has fielded over 30 players during the league and they remain undefeated indicates this aspiration is close to fruition.

Another successful objective has been the general attitude of the players. Every one of them has adopted an unselfish work ethic allied to high fitness levels, particularly around the middle third.

The half-forward line is crucial to all aspects of their play; be it tracking back or supporting their inside forwards. When the likes of Bryan Cullen, Paul Flynn and Kevin McManamon are jaded, they are replaced by like-minded running machines. Gilroy has no problem using five substitutes. In fact, he expects to in every game.

The only concern I would have about all the changes in personnel throughout the league is whether Gilroy knows his best 15. That is an equally important factor when it comes to maintaining confidence levels.

Discipline was their major flaw when it came to the latter stages of the All-Ireland series last year. We all know how dearly it cost them against Cork and with Daniel Goulding, the best free-taker in the country right now, if this has not been addressed tomorrow they will be picked apart.

I have noticed that Dublin defenders rarely get exposed to one-on-one situations anymore. Again, this is down to industry and embracing the new system.

One concern I would have for Dublin is their over-reliance on goals. With Michael Shields in at fullback for Cork, you can be sure clear shots on goal will be a rarity.

It means Dublin need to score around 12 points from play to see off the All-Ireland champions. That means the effective employment of the double-marked Bernard Brogan as a decoy. Older brother Alan was running into form so he will be a loss (his red card is a valuable lesson to all of the need to have your best players available for important games).

Dublin are a hard-working team but do they have enough quality footballers to help shoulder the burden of scoring? That will be examined tomorrow and throughout the summer. Marc Ó Sé already proved the value of holding Bernard Brogan in the Dublin versus Kerry league encounter.

Every team will have a plan to keep him quiet. It means the scores will have to come from somewhere else. And it means Brogan must be willing to create as much as he finishes this season. Flynn and McManamon will come powering through for goal opportunities, while Diarmuid Connolly and Tomás Quinn will need to produce a few points apiece.

It is these points from play that will be needed to see off the All-Ireland champions in Croke Park because Cork have the capacity to win this game with long-range shooting alone.

It should be an intriguing duel. September is another matter entirely but I see Dublin having more to them in April.

Why Dublin can win . . .

1 Dublin have a distinct advantage having just played all their home league matches in Croke Park. Really, it is an unfair advantage. Cork are no strangers to the pitch but the travel element in comparison to Dublin's creature comforts might be a factor.

2 They are undefeated and look determined to win a national title. They have been ticking off areas where improvement was needed for the past few weeks and now they are presented with an opportunity to prove they have learnt from last year's All-Ireland semi-final endgame. In contrast, Cork are without some key players and while it relieves the pressure on them, it may prove costly on the day.

3 Dublin are a united camp. There is no player sulking or complaining on being replaced. In fact, they seem almost relieved to be hauled off considering the amount of running they have been forced to do. The players have all bought into the collective effort. They understand that honesty is a key element in their tactical make-up. There is intelligence behind the Gilroy methodology. Everyone seems to understand their role within the team, and all in all it looks very promising.