Club SFC final: Kilmacud Crokes stand betwenn Kilcoo and a maiden title

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

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 defeat St Jude's 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