Down were 80/1 to win the All Ireland football title, arguably the greatest prize in Irish sport, after they were defeated in the Ulster Championship earlier this year.

Despite that the men from the Mountains of Mourne will be in Croke Park on Sunday to face a hotly fancied Cork team who were close to favorites all year to occupy a final spot.

Cork lost to Kerry in last year's All Ireland final giving a bitterly disappointing display in the process.They will be all out to make amends this year.

Down on the other hand come into the final with little pressure on them. In corner forward Marty Clarke, (pictured), they have probably the best player in Gaelic football at the moment.

In the semi final against Kildare, Clarke who like Tadgh Kennelly from last year's victorious Kerry team, came home from Australia where he had been pursuing a career in Australian rules, gave a man of the match performance which showed him as a great talent.

The game on Sunday will very much revolve around whether Cork can prevent Clarke running riot like he did against Kildare.

Cork know they are lucky enough to be in the final.


Dublin had them beaten until an astonishing collapse in the final few minutes.

With that let-off behind them they will also be hoping their forwards perform better than they did in that game when they shot wide after wide in the early stages of the game.

Somehow this gritty Cork team found a way to win however, and they will be fancied by the bookmakers to do it again on Sunday.

I think Down are a team of destiny this year however, and they may well shade it.

They have defeated Kerry and Kildare, two extremely strong sides and will not be afraid of Cork in any shape or form.

And they have Marty Clarke, potentially a match winner all on his own.

Down to win by two points 1-11 to 1-9.