All-Ireland SFC final: Ten days before the All-Ireland football final the captains of Armagh and Tyrone, Kieran McGeeney and Peter Canavan, discuss some of the issues surrounding the game. Ian O'Riordan reports.

On playing a neighbouring county from the same province in the All-Ireland final:

Kieran McGeeney: "It means we will know each other that bit better. And there might be a bit more baggage attached to it than if you were playing, say, Kerry or Dublin. But you still want to win the game, so it's largely irrelevant what county you are playing. You just have to look after your own performance."

Peter Canavan: "It makes no difference to me. The prize is still the same. So you're still going to go out there and try your best to win it. And right now we're just delighted after the semi-final to get the opportunity to play in the AllIreland final."

On the criticism of both Tyrone and Armagh's style of play in their All-Ireland semi-finals.

McGeeney: "Well it amazes me that some people can find criticism, and some people find great admiration. I think criticism is a good thing, as long as it's constructive, and not personal. Against Donegal I thought we played quite a good game. And there was a lot of positive football from both sides. So I think people tend to focus on the negative parts a little too much.

"And I don't think you could find a better 20 minutes of football than the first 20 minutes of Kerry against Tyrone. The style of the game did change after that, but people forget these things."

Canavan: "Well doctors differ, patients die. But we didn't get much criticism at home for the style of play. That's just the way the game is going, and you're going to do whatever it takes to win.

"We've had many days where we came down to Croke Park and played good football and went home with nothing to show for it."

On the differences between preparing for Sunday week and their previous All-Ireland finals.

McGeeney: "Our preparation has been the same as last year. It's just the route to the final has been a little more scenic. But we'd hope we are a better team this year. The ball has been spending more time up in the forwards, which is always a good sign. But each game has been different. And I don't think we were that poor early on. People just underestimated the teams we were playing.

"But you have to step up every year, because teams learn more about you, and if you do the same thing twice you're not going to win much. So in the regard I think we have progressed. Winning last year though will mean nothing on Sunday week. If anything, what happened last year will spur on Tyrone more than us."

Canavan: "If anything there is more excitement around the county now than there was in 1995, something like what happened in Armagh last year. We've had to wait a long time to get back there again, so you want to make the most of it.

"History shows that you don't get to too many All-Ireland finals. So you will always savour this time."

On their respective managers, Joe Kernan of Armagh, and Mickey Harte of Tyrone.

McGeeney: "Well Joe is not just a bag of tricks. He's a good manager too. He doesn't have us winning games by a line at half-time. Or some wee trick. It's his preparation, and his perfectionist attitude in all the structures that need to be set up to allow us to play and to train at this level.

"And he has a great ability to communicate with players, and get the best out of them at training. And that's where games are won. You don't turn on the Sunday and have a big game. It's hours and hours of hard work during the winter, and it's then when Joe is at his best. Keeping the players going.

"I think what you find with good managers is that it's what they do away from the limelight that makes a difference. So I think there is a hell of a lot more to Joe Kernan than some people might think."

Canavan: "Mickey has a very positive outlook, no matter what he does. He'd be very single-minded, and very dedicated to what he does. He would have brought in a few new things, like trainers and that, though I don't think the style of play would have changed all that much.

"But he has brought in a new enthusiasm and freshness to the team, which mightn't have been there in recent years."

Canavan, on the recovery from the ankle injury sustained the semi-final:

"Well it is improving each day. So I'd be confident now of making it for the final. At the time I knew it was serious, but the five-week gap meant I always had high hopes I'd be okay.

"But we won't know until Sunday week exactly how good it is, and how much fitness I've lost. But I've been in the pool and the gym a lot, doing as much as I can without complicating the injury."

McGeeney, on the changes in the Armagh defence from last year's championship:

"Well Paul Hearty has been involved as goalkeeper with three All-Ireland club finals, so he's been around long enough to know what it takes. And Andy Mallon also has a lot of speed. And younger players like that will always show an extra bit of flair and abandonment for a big game like this."