BBC pundits preview the All-Ireland Hurling final

All-Ireland Hurling Final - Clare v Cork

Date: Sunday, 21 July Throw-in: 15:30 BST Venue: Croke Park, Dublin

Coverage: Watch on BBC Two, BBC Two Northern Ireland, BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website & app; live text commentary, report, reaction & highlights on BBC Sport website & app

The All-Ireland Hurling final is upon us.

After a thrilling championship, Clare and Cork prepare to lock horns at Croke Park on Sunday.

The hugely anticipated climax to the hurling championship can be watched across the BBC, with coverage on BBC Two, the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website beginning at 15:00 BST.

And a star-studded cast of BBC pundits will offer their expert views. Joining the coverage will be: Jamesie O'Connor (two-time All-Ireland winner with Clare), Seamus Flanagan (five-time All-Ireland winner with Limerick), Paul Murphy (four-time All-Ireland winner with Kilkenny), Austin Gleeson (All-Star Waterford hurler), Neil McManus (legendary Antrim hurler).

Here, the BBC pundits predict how Sunday's showpiece will play out.

Who will win?

Austin Gleeson: It will be hard for Cork to get to that level we saw against Limerick again.

I don't think Clare have reached the potential they are capable of so I'm going to tip Clare, just about. They'll win by one or two points.

It'll be tight and high-scoring but Clare will come out on top, like in the Munster Championship.

Paul Murphy: I'm going for a Clare win, just about, possibly by a point or two.

Seamus Flanagan: It's a tough one to call. They both play enjoyable brands of hurling but if pushed, I think Cork's half and full-forward line, their speed, is a massive advantage. I'd go Cork but I'm giving Clare every chance.

Jamesie O'Connor: The head is probably saying Cork in that they've beaten Limerick twice this year. If they reach that level again, it'll be hard to see them beaten. But Clare beat them last year in Ennis and down in Cork earlier in the championship.

I give the Banner every chance. If their big guns can fire and if they deliver a more consistent performance than we've seen so far, they just might have enough. That might be the heart overruling the head, but that's who I'm going with.

Neil McManus: This Clare team are just ready to go all the way. There's a huge buzz around the county having finally overcome their semi-final hoodoo.

There is a collective within this Clare team that will feel this is their last chance, and they will want to take advantage of that (nine of the starting team are now edging into their 30s).

It's a different story for Cork. Other than Patrick Horgan and Seamus Harnedy, their starting 15 are a very young group. The overall need is greater in that Clare squad.

'He's been immense' - which players should I look out for?

Fitzgibbon's form has him firmly in the hunt to be named hurler of the year

Paul Murphy: Darragh Fitzgibbon is in hurler of the year form, especially after he popped up with three points in the semi-final. He has a huge engine and covers a lot of ground. Shane O'Donnell is in similar form for Clare. He's been immense all year and scored a hat-trick in the 2013 final replay against Cork, of course.

How Clare mark Fitzgibbon will be key, likewise what Cork to do to mark O'Donnell.

Ryan Taylor could be one to look out for. He came on the last day from the bench, had six possessions and set up a few scores. He could have another huge impact.

Jamesie O'Connor: Alan Connolly is potentially the most dangerous player Cork have. He has the X-factor, is always looking for that goal. Clare have a big decision to make as to who picks him up.

Mark Rodgers is another one to look out for. He's another potential match-winner. He's a flair player. His form has been a bit patchy but I'm hoping to see a huge performance from him.

Neil McManus: A real source of strength for Clare is their replacements, while Cathal Malone and David Fitzgerald have formed a brilliant midfield partnership.

Although neither of them had a major impact on the semi-final, that doesn't mean they couldn't come out and really take this game by the scruff of the neck.

Cork, however, have played with real freedom in and around the middle too while Fitzgibbon has just been electric. His athleticism really allows him to express himself in the open spaces of Croke Park.

What are the key match-ups?

Seamus Flanagan: I'm looking forward to seeing Shane Barrett and John Conlon, that's going to be a titanic battle. They're two contrasting styles in that Conlon likes to sit back and control the game whereas Barrett is very much an attacking player, looking to take on his man and a goal opportunity.

In terms of the Clare backline, I'm looking forward to seeing Conor Cleary and who he picks up, whether that's Brian Hayes, Alan Connolly or Patrick Horgan. That's going to be a big battle. Whoever wins that will have a fair say on who wins the game.

And there is the age-old question of who will pick up Tony Kelly? Other than that, I'll be interested to see Shane O'Donnell and whether he plays inside or outside. Sean O'Donoghue could pick him up, he picked him up earlier in the year down in Cork. If Cork can limit O'Donnell, they'll limit a lot of scores from the Clare side.

Austin Gleeson: One of the key battles could be David Fitzgerald on Ciaran Joyce possibly. Tim O'Mahony followed Cian Lynch the last day so it could be that Joyce follows Fitzgerald or O'Mahony follows Fitzgerald.

Whoever comes out on top there will be huge.

Jamesie O'Connor: Adam Hogan is Clare's best man-marker but he's done well on Patrick Horgan in the past. Do Clare put their other corner-back Conor Leen - who's been excellent in his debut season - on Cork's most experienced forward? And Horgan has a point to prove after not playing particularly well in the semi-final so it's a huge call for the Clare management team.

Clare have more scope to throw curve balls as to where these guys line out than Cork do. Both O'Donnell and Tony Kelly could start at centre-forward, Kelly could be in midfield and O'Donnell at full-forward. [Cork manager] Pat Ryan will have put in a huge amount of time in preparing for that.

What would it mean to win?

Jamesie O'Connor: Clare have only ever won four All-Ireland titles and 11 years since they beat Cork in 2013. The Rebels haven't tasted All-Ireland success in 19 years, which is a famine of unimaginable proportions given their long history and tradition.

A win would mean the world to both counties and kick off a month of celebrations.

Clare have lost the last three Munster titles to Limerick. Finally getting their hands on the ultimate prize would mean everything to the Clare players and their supporters.