Two giants collide - Before the championship ball was thrown in on Sunday 11th May, I have little doubt many pundits fancied a Kerry versus Ulster county in the ultimate decider. It was difficult to say exactly which one because the Ulster championship is predictable in one way only - it's full of surprises. Derry had just walked away with the NFL crown and set a few questions Kerry found themselves unable to answer that late in springtime. But Kerry believed summer would be different. Derry's win was a marker of sorts but both Armagh and Tyrone had their backers too. By the beginning of August only Armagh looked capable of the challenge. Derry had faded and Tyrone hung on by a thread. Kerry as ever, had kept their side of the bargain and had emerged despite a Munster final collapse. And over a two-week period the ground was cleared in thrilling fashion as first Galway put Kerry to the pin of their collars but lost; then Armagh imploded against Wexford and Tyrone began their renaissance with a single point win over Mayo and a drubbing of the Dubs. Only Cork flew the provincial champions flag when the championship narrowed to four but the manner of their win over Kildare did not bode well. The semi-finals are over now and here we are, once again, announcing another Tyrone versus Kerry championship clash. They have dominated the decade at All-Ireland level and so this clash is a winner takes all, the bragging rights are on offer and we can expect a massive battle to see who carries the cup home. Facing each other, we have the champions of the past five years - three to Kerry and two to Tyrone but remember Tyrone beat Kerry on the road to both their wins. Kerry cannot boast such a test on the road to theirs. Both sides did not find their paths to this year's final to be covered in roses. The reigning champions threw away an eight-point lead over Cork in the drawn encounter and somehow repeated the trick in the replay. When Pearse O'Neill goaled as the game entered the last minutes there was a feeling abroad the Kerry antics had caught up with them and the chickens were coming home to roost. Then another Cork score - a smashing Donnacha O'Connor point levelled the game. And just as quickly the flame was quenched as the Kerry fire engine raced downfield and in a flash The Gooch squeezed the ball into the net. Tyrone had all sorts of bother too as Wexford refused to go home early. Looking to be in a really dark room at half time as they trailed the Ulster county by eight points, Jason Ryan somehow convinced his team to go out and fight for their pride. And in the end Tyrone were happy to sneak back into their dressing room with the win. It will be the most eagerly awaited final of the decade - the showdown and shootout if you like. Tyrone going for a third title in this their golden era against perhaps the greatest Kerry team of all time. I use the word 'perhaps' simply because if you look at the close defeats Kerry endured since 2001, it is not unreasonable to suggest this side could be going for a ridiculous number of titles-in-a-row. As it is they must settle for the possibility of three-in-a-row and whatever their hunger will allow over the next couple of years. I am so looking forward to the tactics that each manager will consider over the next few weeks as they prepare and plan for their own performance and the threat posed by the opposition. Kerry will be back to full strength - Paul Galvin and Darragh O Se return after suspension and both will be part of the backdrop to this final. Darragh will start but will Pat O'Shea feel Paul Galvin is ready to play? He is of course the team captain and so there will be that pressure to select him. Kerry people put a lot of emphasis on the name of the man to captain winning teams. But the match ups will be the real talking points. The marking of Declan O'Sullivan, Colm Cooper, Kieran Donaghy and Tommy Walsh will need thought and consideration by Mickey Harte. Likewise Kerry will want to sit on Brian Dooher, Brian McGuigan and Colm McCullagh. Will Sean Cavanagh start at midfield? And what about this Kerry defence? Why is the full back line going missing so often? Already Kerry has conceded 1-16 in the Munster final, 1-16 again in the quarters versus Galway; 3-7 in the drawn semi and a whopping 2-14 in the replay win over Cork. Only the sheer brilliance of their attacking machine is allowing them win these matches and the idea of a head to head and all out attack against Tyrone is just a non-starter. Tyrone will be highly organised and play their defensive patterns, working the ball upfield in an attempt to isolate a shooter. Kerry will mix the running game with bombs into Donaghy and Walsh but one thing is for certain - Tyrone will concentrate on not conceding a big score in the final. And what will Official GAA think of handing over the Sam Maguire Cup to a returning Kerry captain Paul Galvin if that scenario comes to pass? It will certainly make for a degree of discomfort around the presentation area and a sense in Kerry that despite the handful of sendings off this year, they were a team more sinned against than sinning. Darragh O Se, sent off twice this year, might well join him to lift the cup. A contrast in styles then but that is the beauty of it. Two top class managers will bring highly skilled teams to Croke Park for the biggest footballing day of the year. Proven when tested, these teams are multiple All-Ireland winners and yet each will feel the absolute need to prove themselves one more time. For the good times. So many questions and possibilities and no way of knowing what will actually happen until late on the evening of 21st September. In the meantime we will discuss and opine and share the build up with whoever is willing to listen. It happens the same way every September! With Kerry chasing their three in a row and Tyrone the minor-senior double, only Mayo get in the way of the counties keeping the show to themselves on All Ireland final day. It's a decent Mayo minor team and we are chasing a one-in-a-row! We'll be up against it, as Tyrone's young stars look a team of many talents. But on this day of footballing days, you're always up against it when you are playing to be the champions of all Ireland. C'mon Mayo! Tweet

Most Read Stories