Down are aiming to make it third time lucky in Saturday's Christy Ring Cup final but they enter the game as underdogs against a talented Kerry outfit.

The Kingdom are unbeaten en route to the showdown having claimed the scalps of Down, Derry and Kildare.

The scoreboard read 3-16 to 2-17 in Kerry's favour when the two sides met back on May 4 at Pairc Esler.

The Mourne County bounced back via the back door route with victories over Armagh and Meath.

They required a second day to successfully negotiate the Meath hurdle at the penultimate stage.

0-23 to 1-10 was the final score after extra-time failed to separate the sides first time around.

All the while, Kerry were sitting back with their feet up and they will be the fresher of the two teams this weekend.

The decider could boil down to a straight shoot-out between Paul Brannif (Down) and Shane Nolan.

Verdict: Kerry

Down: Stephen Keith; Matthew Conlon, Patrick Hughes, Ben Toner; Fintan Conway, Connor Woods, Michael Ennis; Donal Hughes, Ciaran Coulter; Daniel Toner, Paul Braniff, Paul Sheehan; Kevin McGarry, Gareth Johnson, James Coyle.

Kerry: Bernard Rochford; Rory Horgan, Liam Boyle, Paud Costello; Darragh O'Connell; Tom Murnane, Darren Dineen; John Griffin, Daniel Collins; Brendan O'Leary, Willie O'Dywer, Colm Harty; Padraig Boyle, Aidan Boyle, Shane Nolan.

Referee: Christopher Browne

Odds: Down 7/4, Draw 10/1, Kerry 8/15

Match Details:Croke Park; 4pm; Saturday, June 8th, extra-time if required Tweet

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