Kilcoo (Down) v Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin), Croke Park, 5pm
Some 755 days have passed since the last AIB All-Ireland club football final.
A murky January afternoon saw Kilcoo take Corofin to extra-time, before the Galway side Corofin flexed their muscles to complete a hat-trick of All-Ireland titles.
Covid then intervened to deny us a grand finale in 2021; the provincial series was also a casualty.
Thankfully we're back in business. Co Down's Kilcoo head to Croke Park hoping to take the step they couldn't quite jump in 2020. Opposing them are Kilmacud Crokes, that club nestled in the village of Stillorgan on Dublin's southside, who are seeking a third All-Ireland title.
Two days away from the All-Ireland club football final, @MartyM_RTE is in south Dublin and east Down ahead of the meeting of @KCrokesGAAClub and @KilcooGAC #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/VOtQnMMl6a
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) February 10, 2022
The bookies slightly go with the men from the Mourne County to claim a maiden crown, perhaps being swayed by Kilcoo's quite devastating form in getting this far. Crokes, on the other hand, have often had to dig it out, none more so than in their Dublin final victory over St Jude's where they came from five down at the break to win by 1-07 to 1-06.
Paul Mannion's absence, following a knee injury picked up in the provincial semi-final win over Portarlington, was a huge blow for Crokes, though they have managed well without in the games since.
Speaking to the media in advance of the decider, Mannion's team-mate Dara Mullins spoke about how others have stepped up in the subsequent games against Naas and Pádraig Pearses.
"As a forward [division] united we just took it upon ourselves to raise our game an extra couple of per cent.
"There has been more of an even spread of scores around the place and everyone's just kind of realising that they need to step up to the plate and take on a little bit more responsibility in his absence.
"He is such a quality player that most of the time when he gets the ball a score comes from himself or through someone else.
"He's been a huge player for us in the past. But I suppose come Saturday, as the six forwards we're just trying to get as many scores as we can and help the team to get the right result.
"We've played two games without him now but I think I think we have improved, and there still is more room for improvement. I think we're going in the right direction."
Mullin, along with Shane Horan and Callum Pearson, stood out in the Crokes attack as they wore down Padraig Pearses in the semi-final. They also had Conor Casey, Cian O'Connor and Anthony Quinn to call on to add further firepower late on as Crokes eventually ran out six-point winners.
A first-half Craig Dias goal provided the Leinster champions with an early cushion.
It was an efficient, controlled and disciplined performance - a summation of Crokes' season so far.
Steering the Kilcoo ship is Mickey Moran. For close on four decades, Moran has managed an array of club and county teams. After stepping down as Leitrim boss in 2011 because of ill-health, many thought that would be it. No. Another chapter was about to begin.
A re-energised Moran would soon leave his mark on Derry's Slaughtneil, guiding them to two All-Ireland finals. Kilcoo, who were beaten by Slaughtneil in a provincial final, took notice. In 2019, Moran led the Down outfit to a first Ulster title. A second one followed last season.
And so this afternoon, at the fifth time of asking, Mickey Moran will attempt to break his All-Ireland final hoodoo.
Kilcoo's Ulster final success over Derrygonnelly was empahatic, but they were taken to extra-time by Derry's Glenn in the semi-final, while the same scenario unfolded against St Finbarr's a fortnight ago. Of course the Down champions had a chance to win the game in regulation time when awarded a close-in free late on, but Aidan Branagan picked up a red card for an off-the-ball challenge on Adam Lyne and a throw-ball was the result.
Branagan's appeal against the sending off was successful and he will be available for selection.
Paul Devlin, who bagged 0-06 against the Cork champions, highlighted his side's "calmness and patience" in dealing with those extra 20 minutes and feels it will stand to the Magpies if they have to go the extra distance again.
In his pre-final chat with the media, he said: "You know that in extra-time, the legs are tired, the mind is tired, and mistakes can happen more often.
"I thought that we controlled the ball, and worked in the scores. One point in extra-time is massive. Against Glen, we got a goal in extra-time. We got big scores at the right times. We worked those scores to the right areas. We weren't thinking about trying to take pot shots. We played to the percentages. We worked well to get the right men on the ball in certain areas.
"St Finbarr's were very physical, powerful and they knew what they were about. Hopefully it will stand us in good stead coming into this week's final."
On paper it has the makings of an intriguing decider. Crokes looking for a hat-trick of wins over Ulster opposition on All-Ireland final day. Kilcoo, after coming so close in 2020, perhaps feeling that now is their time.
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