The role of the goalkeeper has never been so important in hurling and two of the game's finest exponents will be on view in this year's All-Ireland final. Donal Og Cusack is one of the most recognizable faces in the GAA, having kept goal for the Rebels since current selector Ger Cunningham brought the curtain down on his illustrious career in 1998. The GPA secretary first came to national prominence in 1995 when a Cork minor team, which also included Sean Og O hAilpin and Joe Deane, hammered Kilkenny in the All-Ireland decider. Cusack was also between the posts when the Rebels won back-to-back All-Ireland under 21 titles in 1997 and '98, and he has been a mainstay of the senior team ever since. He won his first All-Ireland senior medal in 1999 when a youthful Cork team recorded a surprise win over Kilkenny, and was also a key figure in last year's defeat of the Cats. Along with county colleague Diarmuid O'Sullivan, he was a driving force in Cloyne's march to last year's county senior final which they lost to Na Piarsaigh. Liam Donoghue combines his goalkeeping duties with that of captain and is hoping to become the first Galway man since none other than Conor Hayes to lift the Liam McCarthy Cup. He is no stranger to All-Ireland final action, having won All-Ireland medals at minor and under 21 level in 1992 and '93 respectively. Since making his championship debut three years ago, Liam has solved what had been a problem position for the Tribesmen. The likes of Michael Crimmins and Damien Howe had been in and out of the team, and despite conceding four goals in the All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny, Donoghue remains the county's undisputed number one. Liam played a major role with his goalkeeping expertise in Clarinbridge's win over Athenry for a first-ever Galway senior title in 2001 and was in the side that lost the All-Ireland club final the following St. Patrick's Day to Birr of Offaly. Both goalkeepers are sure to have vital roles to play in the All-Ireland final, with Cusack's quick puck-outs being central to Cork's game-plan. As well as being great goalkeepers, both men are natural leaders and the final could hinge on whichever one of them manages to keep a clean sheet. Tweet

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