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All you need to know: Dublin v Cork TG4 All-Ireland final

Niamh McEvoy in action against Hannah Looney of Cork last year
Niamh McEvoy in action against Hannah Looney of Cork last year

Sunday 20 December

All-Ireland SFC final
Cork v Dublin, Croke Park, 3:30pm

TV

TG4 will have live coverage of the final on Sunday.

There will be full highlights on The Sunday Game on Sunday, RTÉ2, at 9.30.

Radio

Live updates as part of Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.

Online

Live blog on RTE.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.

Weather

Dry but cold weather expected in Dublin on Sunday. Minimal chance of a shower.

More detailed info on met.ie.

Dublin and Cork head into Croke Park this afternoon having dominated the sport for the last 15 years.

You have to go back to 2004 for the last time another county won it, and 2002 that at least one of the pair didn't appear in the final.

Of the 15 finals played since 2004, Cork have won 11 while Dublin have claimed the others. And while the Rebels are joint-top of the all-time winners list, it's the women from the capital who have dominated of late and they are going for four-in-a-row on Sunday.

This will be the sixth final meeting of the counties, all since 2009, with Cork having won four the previous five. The sole Dublin victory however did come in the most recent clash two years ago.

Dublin's long standing captain Sinéad Aherne can create her own piece of history on Sunday if Dublin win, becoming the first player to captain her side to four All-Irelands.

The sides last met in championship at the semi-final stage last year.

Level at the break, Dublin struck second-half goals through Caoimhe O'Connor and a late Aherne penalty to win by six points.

Mick Bohan is in his second spell in charge of the capital's footballers, having previously brought them to an All-Ireland final in 2003. Dublin haven't lost a game in his second spell in charge, with October's Group 3 victory over Donegal by three points the closest they've come to drawing or losing.

For his opposite number Ephie Fitzgerald, it's a fifth season in charge. Although it very nearly wasn't after he told the media he was stepping away after last year's semi-final loss, only to change his mind and seek reappointment a couple of months later.

He guided the Rebels to All-Ireland glory in 2016, the last of their titles.

"The top two teams have got to the final," former Mayo player Fiona McHale told RTÉ's Morning Ireland this week.

"Cork have shown the better form but I really think there's the potential in Dublin for a better performance this weekend. 

"Dublin can mark Cork’s main players in attack, Doireann O'Sullivan, Ciara O’Sullivan and Saoirse Noonan. I’m not sure on the flipside that Cork have the defence to mark the six Dublin forwards. 

"I’m going to have to tip Dublin just to win, but I think it’s going to be a very tight game and I do think Cork still have potential to win it." 

In terms of teams, Cork line out as they did in the semi-final win over Galway the last day, while Dublin have one change, with Niamh McEvoy returning to the starting XV in place of Sarah McCaffrey.

Cork: M O'Brien; E Meaney, R Phelan, S Kelly; M Duggan, A Hutchings, E O’Shea; M O’Callaghan, H Looney; E Kiely, C O’Sullivan, O Finn; Á O’Sullivan, D O’Sullivan (capt.), S Noonan.  

Dublin: C Trant; M Byrne, N Collins, A Kane; L Caffrey, S McGrath, S Goldrick; L Magee, J Dunne; N Healy, L Davey, C Rowe; S Aherne (capt.), N McEvoy, N Owens. 

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