The odds are very much stacked against Cork going into tomorrow's Munster SFC decider.

The Rebels have ended up on the wrong side of the Fitzgerald Stadium scoreboard on their last 10 visits to the venue.

20 years ago they celebrated a third Munster SFC title success in-a-row on the Killarney pitch but that's a distant memory now.

Brian Cuthbert and his players enter the fixture with plenty of criticism ringing in their ears following their league final collapse against Dublin.

Their 1-20 to 1-8 quarter-final victory over Clare failed to silence their critics but with forwards of the calibre of Brian Hurley and Colm O'Neill it would be foolish to write off their chances of avenging last year's heavy 0-12 to 0-24 defeat.

"Would I fear them? No," says Castlehaven clubman Hurley. "We've won minor down there, five years ago, so that's what I remember. The last 20 years aren't what I'd be looking at - my focus is Sunday in Killarney.

"People are quick to change their minds and to cut throats, but if there are 10 people down there or 20,000, or 40,000, as long as I'm playing in a Munster final, I'll enjoy it as much as I can. What people think of how we're going, that doesn't really concern me, as long as our camp has the focus right.

"You have to have confident going into a game. We're not cocky but we believe we can win it. You'd be crazy to be going into a Munster final if you didn't believe you could win it."

Eyebrows were raised when the Kerry starting 15 was announced and it didn't include Colm Cooper's name.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice has made five changes to the team which disposed of Tipperary by 2-14 to 2-8 in the provincial semi-final with Fionn Fitzgerald, David Moran, Stephen O'Brien, Donnchadh Walsh and Footballer of the Year James O'Donoghue all getting call-ups.

The Gooch's omission is a big talking point but it underlines the strength in depth in the Kieran Donaghy captained squad.

That could swing the game in the Kingdom's favour but don't expect the Rebels to go down without a fight.

Verdict - Kerry.

Kerry team: Brendan Kealy; Fionn Fitzgerald, Marc Ó Sé, Shane Enright; Jonathan Lyne, Peter Crowley, Killian Young; David Moran, Bryan Sheehan, Stephen O'Brien, Johnny Buckley, Donnchadh Walsh; Barry John Keane, Kieran Donaghy, James O'Donoghue.

Cork team: Ken O'Halloran; Michael Shields, Eoin Cadogan, James Loughrey; Barry O'Driscoll, Brian O'Driscoll, Stephen Cronin; Alan O'Connor, Fintan Goold; Paul Kerrigan, Donncha O'Connor, Kevin O'Driscoll; Colm O'Neill, Mark Collins, Brian Hurley.

Match details: Sunday; Fitzgerald Stadium; 2pm.

Referee: Padraig Hughes.

Odds: Kerry 4/9; Draw 15/2; Cork 5/2.

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