A hugely interesting tie awaits in Croke Park today. There is a huge chance that at least one of the teams participating today will be on show in the All-Ireland final come September. In the last four years at least one team who has reached the League final has also made the All-Ireland final.Since 2003 there have only been two years when at the very least a league finalist did not go on to reach the All-Ireland decider.
Indeed Corks record over the last three year has been hugely commendable. This is their third Division 1 final in a row whilst they have also made two All-Ireland finals in that time, winning in 2010. Last year was certainly a set back but I think there is another All-Ireland in this Cork team.
Mayo on the other hand have improved greatly since James Horan has taken over. In a sense their league form was mixed. Their victories however over Dublin and Kerry suggests that they are certainly heading in the right direction. In spite of their hammering of Dublin, their success against Kerry was far more impressive.
It was a game that they probably should have lost, but they dug in when the going got tough and came out with a well merited victory. It was all the more impressive that they achieved this without the in form Aidan O'Shea who will be a huge loss today.
Indeed himself and his elder brother Seamus helped lay the foundations for Mayo's win over Cork in last years All-Ireland quarter final clash. It is paramount that Mayo can break even in this sector today as Cork are more often than not hugely dominant in this area.
They have a good spread of forwards who can punish teams greatly. The likes of Colm O'Neill and Donncha O'Connor in particular cannot be given time and space on the ball.
Mayo too have some potent attackers in the shape of Cillian O'Connor whilst Conor Mortimor and Andy Moran are both in good form. Their backs have also been impressive and Ger Cafferrky and Donal Vaughan provide a strong spine to their defence.
Whoever wins today will take huge confidence going into the championship in the coming months. However a loss will not be detrimental either. Dublin spectacularly lost the League final last year but they went on to win the championship.
I think Cork will just shade this encounter but Mayo will push them all the way. Irrespective of the result both sides could still enjoy a long summer. Don't be surprised to see one of them in Croke Park again in September.
Prediction: Cork by 3
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