Mark McHugh
Former Donegal forward on Sportsound

Shane Walsh hasn't been good for Galway. He's a massive player and when you have a player like him, you need him on the ball. Against Armagh, James Morgan wasn't even marking him that tightly. There was twice against Armagh where he took on his man and tapped over. He's been phenomenal on frees but maybe the stage is set for him, but he'll come up against one of the best corner-backs in the country in Tom O'Sullivan.

John Haughey
BBC Sport NI at Croke Park

Ulster teams fell by the wayside on the way to today's Croker showpiece but that's not to say that there isn't any involvement from the northern province this afternoon.

Many are pointing to the involvement of Tyrone man Paddy Tally in Jack O'Connor's Kerry backroom team as a crucial factor in the Kingdom being back in an All-Ireland Final today.

Kerry's performance against Tally's native county in last year's All-Ireland semi-final was disdainfully described as "naive" by some pundits, as the Red Hands' harrying and hassling of the Kingdom's aristocrats seems to catch Peter Keane's side by surprise.

And that only told half the story as Kerry lost in extra time despite ending up with five more scores than the Reds Hands with goals decisive crucial in Tyrone's 3-14 to 0-22 victory.

Keane was soon gone and the returning O'Connor wasted little time in getting former Galway and Down boss Tally on board.

The decision looks to have been vindicated as O'Connor's Kingdom have conceded just three goals in 12 competitive games this year.

Monaghan and Tyrone were the only teams to rattle the Kerry net in Division One with Cormac Costello's stunning finish for Dublin in the semi-final thriller two weeks ago the sole goal Kerry have conceded in the championship to date.

Tally, who was part of Mickey Harte's backroom team which Tyrone won their first Sam Maguire Cup in 2003, also knows plenty about Galway football from his time in charge of the Tribesmen.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Galway boss Padraic Joyce is no stranger to these occasions.

Joyce played in his first All-Ireland Final as a 21-year-old in 1998 when Galway beat Mick O'Dwyer's Kildare and was on the losing side when the Tribesmen lost the 2000 decider - after a replay - against Kerry.

As a 24-year-old, Joyce then produced a stunning man-of-the-match display in the 2001 decider when he hit 10 points to help Galway upset favourites Meath in a dominant 0-17 to 0-8 victory but never sampled All-Ireland Final day again as a player.

"I thought we'd be back in a final again [within] two or three years but I never even saw Croke Park more than maybe one or twice again before I retired," he told BBC Sport NI.

"I'm just telling our lads to enjoy it because you never know when you are going to be back."

Click here for the full interview with Joyce.

Image source, Getty Images

One of the finest footballers of his generation, David Clifford already has a well-stocked trophy cabinet at the age of 23.

Five Munster titles, three National Leagues, two All-Ireland Minor titles and three All-Stars.

It's a haul most footballers can only dream of, but in Kerry, greatness is measured by how many Celtic Crosses you have in your pocket.

Clifford is yet to get his hands on one. In last year's semi-final, the Fossa clubman hit 0-8 against Tyrone in normal time but injury prevented him from togging out for extra-time as the Red Hands went on to claim a stunning win.

This year he's been playing like a man on a mission. Will that mission conclude with a maiden All-Ireland title?

Sean Kelly has just led the Galway team out on the pitch to rapturous applause from their supporters and Kerry sprinted out seconds later to similar acclaim. Both squads clearly opting for lengthy warm-ups with the throw-in some 35 minutes away.

John Haughey
BBC Sport NI at Croke Park

After the trauma of the four-hour marathon trip among the Derry throngs to Croke Park a couple of weeks ago, it was a much more sedate journey to headquarters today.

No queues at Sprucefield or the toll booths near Drogheda. Of course, I would have loved to have been bumper with bumper with Derry regs all the way down again - I was born in the Oak Leaf County for goodness sake - but alas it wasn't to be!

Hopefully there will be no programmes fired in my direction today but I will endeavour to remain strictly neutral all the same.

One of the great things about All-Ireland Final day.

The colour and the pre-match joy, before the game throws in and the nail-biting commences.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Let's have a look at the teams then.

Both sides are unchanged from their respective semi-final victories, but there is a couple of noteworthy developments in the Kerry panel.

Gavin White is named to start at left half-back despite doubts over his fitness after sustaining a knee injury in the semi-final win over Dublin.

There is no place in the panel for Dara Moynihan, however, who is rumoured to have been injured in training earlier this week. He is replaced by Stefan Okunbor.

Kerry: Shane Ryan; Graham O'Sullivan, Jason Foley, Tom O'Sullivan; Brian Ó Beaglaíoch, Tadhg Morley, Gavin White; David Moran, Jack Barry; Diarmuid O'Connor, Seán O'Shea, Stephen O'Brien; Paudie Clifford, David Clifford, Paul Geaney.

Subs: Shane Murphy; Paul Murphy, Killian Spillane, Adrian Spillane, Micheál Burns, Joe O'Connor, Tony Brosnan, Gavin Crowley, Jack Savage, Jack O'Shea, Stefan Okunbor.

Padraic Joyce sticks with the same Galway XV that started the semi-final defeat of Derry, but there is one change on the bench as Cathal Sweeney replaces Johnny McGrath.

Galway: Connor Gleeson; Liam Silke, Seán Kelly, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Kieran Molloy; Paul Conroy, Cillian McDaid; Patrick Kelly, Matthew Tierney, Johnny Heaney; Robert Finnerty, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh.

Subs: James Keane, James Foley, Billy Mannion, Cathal Sweeney, Niall Daly, Paul Kelly, Owen Gallagher, Finnian Ó Laoi, Eoin Finnerty, Dessie Conneely, Dylan Canney.

BBC Radio Foyle

On the road and can't watch?

Not to worry. Sportsound has you covered. Mark Sidebottom is joined by Donegal All-Ireland winner Mark McHugh for build-up to today's game.

Oisin Langan and Marc O Se, who won five of these things with Kerry, provide commentary.

Listen on BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Sounds - or simply click the icon at the top of this page - from 15:03 BST.

Croker's looking pristine.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Here we are, then. It may only be July, but it's All-Ireland Football Final day.

This championship season has had a little bit of everything. From last-gasp winners to penalty shootouts, from Hawkeye glitches to headline-grabbing brawls, it's been a captivating three months.

And it all comes down to this: Kerry v Galway, at Croke Park, and a showdown for Sam Maguire.

It has the makings of a classic. Do stick around as two of football's most exciting teams bring the curtain down on the inter-county season.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images