Monaghan are worthy contenders but Cork are queens of the sport until proven otherwise

While it is obviously wise to tread lightly when pondering the end of this unforgettable Cork team's road, there is no denying it looks like we've arrived at a tipping point. They've managed to return each one of their magnificent 10 for an eighth appearance final but it's clearly been a rockier road this year.

Juliet Murphy only came out of retirement in mid-summer and tomorrow will be goalkeeper Elaine Harte's first start all year after she went travelling. The feeling that pretty soon life is going to start getting in the way of their relentless emasculation of this competition is hard to shake.

They were beaten twice by Kerry in the Munster championship – the same Kerry that they've kept below stairs for a decade and who they demolished in the All-Ireland final last year. They finally got them at the third time of asking in the semi-final but only after a massive fright from Dublin. They're not the murder machine of old.
Hearts broken
By contrast, Monaghan comfortably ticked a fourth Ulster championship in a row off the list in July, tonked Laois in the quarter-final in August and had five points to spare of Galway in the semi. They've had their hearts broken in finals by Cork twice before but there's a harder edge to them this time.

These two served up a thrilling final two years ago so they’re not lacking in either experience or craft, with six of them winning All Stars in recent years.

If anyone has it in them to end Cork's run, Monaghan do. But Eamonn Ryan's team are queens of the sport until proven otherwise.
Verdict: Cork.