VETERAN Tyrone defender Brian McGuigan insists the former All-Ireland champions are hungry to take Kerry's title away from them on Sunday. "At the end of the day I just want to win as many All-Ireland titles as I possibly can," said McGuigan. "I'm going for my third All-Ireland but I don't even want to stop there, I just want to keep going - that's what everybody on this team wants to do.

"I know a lot of people question the hunger of this team, but how you can ever question a county player's will to win an All-Ireland is beyond me. I don't really know because you want to win as many as possible.

"One of the good things is that a lot of the players have a good bond with each other and the spirit this year has been absolutely unreal, even after games - players like to go out together.

"It's not only on the football field where we are close. It's even off the field where everybody bonds and gels together. I think that really carries on to the football field and that has a lot to do with it."

McGuigan has also revealed the level of respect for the Kingdom within the Tyrone camp.

He added, "I know the Kerry team has a lot of the same players that were there in '05, but at the same time two of the new players that they have are the most vital players in Tommy Walsh and Kieran Donaghy.

"I really think it is going to boil down to those two who is going to win this game. Although they say it's a similar kind of personnel, I think it's a different team and a totally different style of play we are going to be playing against."

Speaking ahead of the All-Ireland final, Tyrone boss Mickey Harte has confirmed that he will stay in charge no matter what happens on Sunday.

Harte said, "I've two more years to go in the current set-up and I am looking forward to that. It is a privileged place to be."

Meanwhile, Kerry boss Pat O'Shea may resist calls to restore captain Paul Galvin to his starting line-up for the final.

Galvin is available after serving his infamous suspension, but there is no guarantee the skipper will walk back into the game after missing all but the first game of the summer.

"Paul's played 50 minutes against Clare in the championship and none of the national league, so Paul hasn't had any match practice and that's a worry," said O'Shea.

"But the panel is full of quality players. The important thing for us is that we can get the calls right and get the balance of the team right."

Ace attacker Colm Cooper wants Kerry to match the hunger displayed by McCarthy Cup winners Kilkenny.

"Looking at Kilkenny last week, they were relentless," Cooper told Star Sunday. "They were up 15, 16 points and they were trying to get to 20 points and keep on scoring.

"That's the mark of true champions, and that's why they've done the three-in-a-row. We'll see next week if the same hunger is in the Kerry lads."

Kerry great Maurice Fitzgerald believes midfield giant Darragh O Se can win the final for his county on Sunday.

"I am convinced that the midfield will have a big role to play," said Fitzgerald. "I know that is a clich, but it will hold true for this game.

"I have been a great admirer of Darragh O Se for his ability to bring himself to the peak of his personal game at the important games of the year. Going on how he played the last time, I think he looked close to his best and Darragh O Se at his best can be a dominant figure."

Towering full-forward Kieran Donaghy came through a tough training session in Killarney on Sunday to prove his fitness for the final.

GAA Proposals

PROPOSALS to change the yellow card system and allow a booked player to be replaced by a substitute will be up for debate at a special GAA congress next month. Another proposal to replace the current under 21 grade with an under 20 competition will also be discussed along with plans for Galway and Antrim to enter the Leinster hurling championship.

The Dublin County Board delegates have already voted against these plans while the Athenry club are leading a move against the proposal in Galway.

GAA Shorts

TOM Ryan has formally withdrawn as a candidate for the vacant Limerick hurling manager's job. Tony Considine, Justin McCarthy, Richie Bennis, Pat Herbert, Gerry Molyneaux and Eddie Murphy remain in the process . . .

THE Meath County Board won't announce the name of their new football manager until next month, with Down's Pete McGrath a late entrant to the race although Eamonn O'Brien remains favorite for the job . . .

THE Irish Mail on Sunday has claimed that Davy Fitzgerald may walk away from the Waterford hurling job after just three months in charge following the heavy defeat to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final . . .

WESTMEATH officials are confident that Kerryman Tomas O Flatharta will commit to another year in charge of their footballers despite interest in his services from Dublin . . .

SELECTOR Sean Dempsey is the new manager of the Laois senior football team, with Niall Rigney confirmed as the county's new hurling boss . . .

KILKENNY made it a clean sweep of the All-Ireland hurling titles this year when their under-21 team beat Tipperary by four points in Sunday's final . . .

VETERAN defender Ollie Canning has confirmed he will carry on for at least another year with the Galway senior hurling squad . . .

GOALIE Aoife Murray was the hero as Galway beat Cork by five points in Sunday's All-Ireland senior camogie final . . .

TOMMY Carr has been confirmed as the new manager of the Cavan senior football team.

Harrington Ready

TRIPLE Major winner Padraig Harrington is ready to lead by example when Europe begin their defense of the Ryder Cup in Valhalla on Friday.

The Dubliner is one of the most experienced players on Nick Faldo's controversial European team, a team missing the aura of Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke amongst others.

Ryder Rookies Graeme McDowell, Ollie Wilson, Soren Hansen and Justin Rose will all make their debuts in Kentucky, and all of them will look to major winner Harrington for inspiration.

"It is going to be interesting not having Colin Montgomerie with us this week, and without Monty and even Darren Clarke it leaves the likes of Miguel Angel Jiminez, myself, Lee Westwood and even Sergio Garcia to lead for Europe out on the course," said Harrington.

"Jiminez is a very relaxed guy and a good guy for anybody to look up to in the team room. Then you've got to look for golfing sense, obviously to myself!

"The last couple of times I was the leading qualifier but there is a distinct difference between that and the role of seniority that Monty held and did such a great job for so long.

"I can see myself doing that this time though. A number of players in last couple of years have told me that they looked up to me and hold me in high esteem so I would see myself fitting in that role.

"I have a lot to say off the course and a fair idea of how to get the best out of someone on the big occasion. I definitely have things to say in the team room and opinions to give to Nick Faldo.

"I have good, valid opinions and I hope he'll take some of them on board -- if not all of them."

Harrington isn't bothered by his own potential feats at Valhalla this week, he just wants to be part of a European win.

"The Ryder Cup is classic team play and that's all that counts in the Ryder Cup, how the team performs," he admitted.

"That's the great thing about team play, to learn to be able to lose a match and celebrate if the team wins or win a match and genuinely not really care that you win your match if the team loses.

"It isn't about the individual, it is about the team. That's why I celebrated more after the K Club when I only played average golf than I did at Brookline when I thought I had won the cup myself.

"I'll be happy not to get a point at all in Valhalla so long as we win. It will be close but I want to win, nothing else matters this week."

Fellow Irishman McDowell is ready to live up to the Ryder Cup expectation that followed him around the north west of Ireland last month.

The Portrush golfer will make his Cup debut at Valhalla on Friday secure in the knowledge that all of Ireland is behind him.

McDowell discovered that much when he took a group of American friends home to play golf in Antrim and Donegal last month.

"It was quite amazing," said McDowell. "I couldn't get over how many people were wishing me well on the team, they were genuinely excited about it.

"We regard this event so highly and the people I met are right up for it. We love it as a golf nation and everyone is so supportive of the team."

Sports Shorts

RUGBY: Hat-tricks were the order of the day in round two of the Magners League last weekend when Keith Earls scored three tries as Munster hammered the Dragons 50-6 at Musgrave Park. Luke Fitzgerald also bagged three tries as Leinster beat Edinburgh 52-6 at the RDs. Ulster lost by just a point, 16-15, in Cardiff while Connacht were well beaten 45-3 in Llanelli . . .

ATHLETICS: Irish sprinter Paul Hession rounded off his season in style on Sunday when he took second place in the 200 meters at the IAAF World Athletics Finals in Stuttgart.