Cork manager Ephie Fitzgerald says his side are ready for the "formidable challenge" ahead of them as they take on Dublin in the All-Ireland Final at Croke Park on Sunday week.
Cork have won 11 of the last 13 All-Ireland titles but they will go into next weekend’s showpiece finale as underdogs as they take on the reigning champions Dublin.
"I think we will be well up for it but we know we are facing a formidable challenge in Dublin," said Fitzgerald, speaking at the team’s meet and greet at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Friday evening.
"They’re All-Ireland champions, they’re league champions and we’re going up to give as best an account of ourselves as possible and we will see where that takes us.
"The coin has been flipped a bit in the sense that Dublin probably have a lot more experience than us. If you look at the age profile of their team it’s probably mid to late 20’s but a lot of their girls have been around a long time.
"They’re very composed and they’ll be used to the big occasion and they have some fantastic footballers but that’s the challenge.
"It would be very easy to do something else. Cork were never going to be there forever in terms of being favourites but all those games over the years have been very tight anyway. Ladies football tends to to-and-fro so I’m expecting next Sunday to be the same.
"I can safely say I have been involved in football a long time and we’re very well prepared. We’ve done everything we can to make sure the girls are right both physically and mentally. From now on really the rest is up to them.
"There’s a great atmosphere in the camp. It’s a fairly new squad with a lot of young girls who will be experiencing an All-Ireland for the first time so there’s a great buzz around the place.
"We have prepared a best as we can and we’re going to go to Dublin full of confidence and hopefully we can give a good performance."
Fitzgerald led Cork to All-Ireland success in his first year in charge back in 2016 when they beat Dublin in the final by a single point, 1-07 to 1-06.
And the Rebels boss insisted that he won’t be changing his side’s style for this match as they will look to attack their talented opponents.
"We’ll play our own game. We know Dublin inside out similar to what they will be with us," he added.
"If you try and be negative and look at what their strengths are it will take away a lot of what we’re good at which is we’re a very free-flowing, attacking side.
"We’re not going to lose that, we don’t want to lose that because we feel the strongest part of our game is to attack. Will be going at it from the word go.
"We’re really looking forward to it now. There was probably a lot of pressure on us in the semi-final after losing last year.
"There’s a lot of new girls there so to get over that was big for us but the final takes on a life of its own and it is a different challenge.
"But our girls are used to playing on the big day so hopefully we will give a good account of ourselves."
