All-Ireland final - Epic battle in store for GAA fans

IGNORE the statistics, the forecasts and the pundits, because the outcome of tomorrow’s contest between Cork and Kilkenny in the All-Ireland hurling final must surely rest in the lap of the gods.

GAA fans in Cork and Kilkenny obviously believe they will be bringing the Liam McCarthy Cup home to their respective counties, but counsel would suggest there is nothing between the sides.

Nothing, that is, that will not be resolved by an emotionally charged, do-or-die, adrenaline-pumping performance by mortals in the guise of idols.

It is irrelevant that the sides arrived at Croke Park via the back door, to challenge for the ultimate hurling honour.

They are the two most glamorously skilled hurling teams in the country, and a capacity crowd of practically 80,000 is guaranteed that they will lift the game to an awesome level.

To watch hurling at the level expected from Cork and Kilkenny tomorrow is to experience the ultimate that the best field sport in the world can offer.

The legions of fans from both counties who are lucky enough to have tickets harder to catch than a sunbeam will be enthralled by a magical display of craft and gamesmanship in the most modern stadium in Europe.

Maybe there will be no sunbeams in Croker, as the Met Office has forecast, but that is about the only reasonable prediction that can be made about tomorrow.

Tomorrow's clash is sure to be a memorable encounter between the giants of hurling.