Cork v Tyrone preview

Watch Cork v Tyrone live on RTÉ Two and RTÉ.ie (IoI) this Sunday from 1.15pm. The show begins with live coverage of the second MFC semi-final between Kerry and Armagh. Live updates throughout the day on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport.

The challenge of retaining Sam Maguire has become an almost impossible task and Tyrone face another massive hurdle on Sunday in their bid to win successive All-Irelands, writes RTÉ Sport's Séamus Leonard.

But while this decade has seen Tyrone go all the way three times (2003, 2005, 2008), Cork haven't tasted the ultimate success since the glory years of 1989 and 1990.

The Rebels have been hugely impressive this summer, beating Kerry in a Munster semi-final replay before slipping past Limerick in the decider.

Donegal were ruthlessly put to the sword in the All-Ireland quarter-final, with the Leesiders running out 20-point winners. And while they will have learned little from that victory, Conor Counihan's men look a stronger outfit for the setbacks they have endured over the past three or four years.

Having Anthony Lynch back will be a huge boost, though they hardly missed him the last day. The veteran defender was superb when marking Kerry’s Colm Cooper and his experience will be vital against a Tyrone full-forward line of Martin Penrose, Stephen O’Neill and Owen Mulligan.

With O'Neill well and truly back in the fold, Tyrone boss Mickey Harte has the luxury of playing Footballer of the Year, Sean Cavanagh further out the field. The Moy clubman was asked to fill in at midfield for the injured Enda McGinley in the Ulster final win over Antrim and the All-Ireland quarter-final victory against Kildare.

While he impressed in the provincial decider, Cavanagh struggled to impose himself in the clash with the Lilywhites and McGinley’s return is a timely one.

Harte has chosen to put Cavanagh in at centre-forward, flanked by Brian Dooher and Joe McMahon. There has been a dearth of stand-out number 11s in recent times and we have to go back to when Trevor Giles was at his peak for Meath to find someone who regularly had a huge influence on games from the '40.

Cavanagh has all the attributes to follow in the steps of Giles and Larry Tompkins, and the fact that the switch will pit him against Graham Canty only serves to make it all the more mouthwatering.

Cork are without the injured James Masters, but the Nemo Rangers man has looked a little off-colour so far this summer and his absence will not disrupt the Rebels' attack that much. Colm O’Neill will start at full-forward, with Conor Gormley for company at the edge of the square.

A cursory glance at the record books shows that Tyrone have won the three All-Ireland finals they have competed in since 2003. It doesn't take a rocket scientist then to conclude that best time to upset the Red Hands is anytime before the third Sunday in September.

The Ulster side should really have fallen at the hands of Kildare, but Kieran McGeeney’s charges lost their nerve near the end and failed to make the most of the numerous chances they had to kill off the game.

But it is said what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, and so we can rightly expect an improved performance from Harte's men on Sunday.

Cork have done all that has been asked of them and have every chance of reaching the final. But until they actually topple Tyrone, it is hard to envisage it happening.

Verdict: Tyrone