Strong Galway can retain title

Women's Football / All-Ireland Final / Galway v Cork: At first glance it appears Cork are poised to take their first All-Ireland women's senior title at the expense of holders Galway.

They beat them easily in the league final earlier in the year, scoring 2-13 to Galway's 0-6, and last month's semi-final win over the perennial favourites Mayo displayed remarkable self-belief and determination.

On top of that Cork have four players and one substitute from last month's All-Ireland winning camogie team, so even though it is their first final, the lack of experience shouldn't be too much of a handicap. This Cork team has also been steadily rising for the past few years, with many of them part of under-16 and minor All-Ireland winning teams. So they certainly won't be punching above their weight in Croke Park tomorrow.

And yet Galway still appear to be in even better form than they were this time last year. Star forward Niamh Fahey, still only 17, returns from international soccer duty in Estonia and has been extremely impressive, while a strong defence that includes Ruth Stephens, Marie O'Connell and captain Aoibheann Daly will get plenty of supply to forwards such as Niamh Duggan, Geraldine Conneely and Lorna Joyce.

Galway are also extremely strong physically in midfield where Annette Clarke and Edel Concannon are likely to win plenty of clean possession against the mobile but light Cork duo of Juliet Murphy and Norita Kelly. Cork will need to play better than they did against Mayo, with even greater pressure on the likes of Ger O'Flynn and Valerie Mulcahy to find the scores.

With so many Galway players missing from the league final that result will have minimal bearing here, and, having returned to full strength, it does appear they'll have a little too much strength and power for Cork.

Cork have recalled Mulcahy to their starting line-up as she's fully recovered from an ankle injury. Galway also made one change in personnel from the side that beat Dublin in their semi-final, with the experienced Ann-Marie McDonagh taking over at left corner-back from talented 16-year-old Claire Molloy.

In the junior final between Sligo and Armagh (1.15pm, live on TG4), the main prize is promotion to next year's senior championship, and Armagh are strong favourites to take it.

They've recently been beating senior teams in challenge games, while Sligo, who lost last year's final to Kildare, will need to get the absolute best out of the likes of Stephanie O'Reilly, Angela Doohan and Therese Marren if they are to overcome the form book and prevail.

Croke Park, Tomorrow, Throw-in - 3.10pm /  On TV - TG4