Jason Foley kicks the latest Kerry wide and it gives Galway another opportunity to get up the field.

Shane Walsh wins the free off David Moran, who appears to lose his footing.

Walsh fires over. Galway lead by three!

As we expected, Sean Kelly is picking up David Clifford. At the other end, Tom O'Sullivan is shadowing Shane Walsh and he is losing that battle against the Galway star so far.

Shane Walsh, given too much time and space, splits the posts after Kerry's Paul Geaney fired wide at the other end.

Stirring stuff early doors. Galway fans are making plenty of noise. Encouraging start for the Tribesmen.

What a block! John Daly splits the Kerry defence open to find Johnny Heaney, whose goal-bound shot is brilliantly blocked by a scrambling Stephen O'Brien.

Unreal last-ditch defending. Over for a point.

At the other end, David Clifford taps over Kerry's first score with a wonderfully taken attacking mark.

Diarmuid O'Connor's effort goes to Hawkeye.

Don't really think the technology - which came under criticism following a few glitches in the Galway-Derry semi-final - was needed there. Well wide.

Second wide for Kerry.

Liam Silke drives forward and wins a '45 off Sean O'Shea.

A chance for Shane Walsh to tap over the game's first score.

He drives it over!

Image source, Getty Images

Gavin White is the next Kerry player who sends a skyscraping ball into the Galway keeper, who opts to punch the ball away instead of catching it.

Kerry making no bones about their gameplan.

Galway could do with some possession.

Kerry try to unnerve Connor Gleeson immediately with a high ball but there's a Kerry free further out the field.

Sean O'Shea - who else - over it. He misses it!

All pre-match festivities have been conducted.

There's a strong wind out there. Galway to attack Hill 16.

Throw-in!

There's a few nasty looking clouds in the Dublin sky. Hopefully we stay rain-free over the next two hours.

John Haughey
BBC Sport NI at Croke Park

The noise is deafening here as the players go on parade. Trying to listen to our Radio Foyle commentary as well but that's a waste of time at the moment.

Image source, Getty Images

A couple of interesting facts about Kerry's previous All-Ireland triumphs have been doing the rounds recently.

All three of Jack O'Connor's titles as Kingdom boss - 2004, 2006 and 2009 - have been preceded by the county winning that year's National League.

A somewhat quirkier stat revolves around Kerry succeeding Tyrone as All-Ireland champions.

All three of Mickey Harte's All-Ireland wins - 2003, 2005 and 2008 - with Tyrone were followed by an O'Connor-led Kerry team prevailing 12 months later.

And yes, Kerry won this year's National League and Tyrone lifted Sam last year.

Will history repeat itself once again?

These Galway fans are ready.

Are you?

Image source, Getty Images

Irish President Michael D Higgins has just been introduced to the teams by GAA President Larry McCarthy.

Michael D is well known for his Galway connections but I imagine is adopting a strict neutrality stance today.

The pre-match parade has just begun. We'll soon be under way.

Inpho photographer James Crombie masterfully captured the tension inside Croke Park seconds before Sean O'Shea's last-gasp free sent Kerry into the final at Dublin's expense.

Can't wait to see what iconic images today's game will produce.

Image source, Inpho

John Haughey
BBC Sport NI at Croke Park

After the recent Covid-affected All-Ireland Final occasions, the GAA this year had a bit of catching up to do in marking the 25th anniversaries of All-Ireland successes.

So first up we had the Dublin crew of 1995 out on the pristine Croke Park turf some 27 years after their infamous one-point victory over Tyrone. Red Hand County folk of a certain vintage won't need reminding that was the game when Charlie Redmond initially refused to accept referee Paddy Russell's decision to send him off as he stayed on the pitch for a further three minutes. Late on, Sean McLaughlin thought he had notched an equalising point only for Russell to deem that Peter Canavan had scooped the ball off the ground in setting up the score. Tyrone's wait for a first All-Ireland title would go on another eight years.

After the Dubs heroes, the victorious Meath and Kerry teams of 1996 and 1997 also took the plaudits from the Croke Park crowd.

Image source, Getty Images

In sport, years-long quests for a return to the top often provide the most compelling storylines.

For Kerry footballers, the weight of expectation must be suffocating at times. Eight years is a long time in most sporting contexts. In a footballing heartland like Kerry, it's tantamount to an eternity.

Read more about the Kingdom's quest to end an eight-year wait for Sam.

This is the first time Kerry and Galway have contested Gaelic football's showpiece since 2000, and just their second final since 1965.

When they squared off in the first All-Ireland Football Final of the 21st century, they needed a replay to decide Sam's destiny after a 0-14 to 0-14 draw.

Just six minutes into the replay - held on a Saturday - Galway right half-back Declan Meehan surged upfield, collected a skyscraping Padraic Joyce and rifled the ball into Declan O'Keeffe's top right-hand corner.

It was one of the great All-Ireland final goals, but it wasn't enough for Galway as Kerry eventually ran out 0-17 to 1-10 winners.

Will we see such an impeccably constructed goal this time out? There are certainly enough ingenious attacking players on display to make it happen.

Image source, Inpho

Marc Ó Sé
Former Kerry defender on Sportsound

Gavin White gives great balance on the left side. He's a player Galway will have to think of. It gives Kerry more options off the bench too. If you're looking at the benches, you'd say Kerry are slight favourites.

A serious amount of time and effort has been poured into the construction of these two breathtaking hats that sit atop a couple of outgoing Galway supporters today.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho