IF TITLES were decided on paper, Galway should not even bother turning up at Croke Park tomorrow for this year's All-Ireland Camogie final, where they face defending champions Cork, with the championship again sponsored by Bord na Gaeilge. But paper has not, to date, decided the O'Duffy Cup or, come to think of it, any other major, championship where the action takes place, on the field.

But the portents would appear to be firmly in favour of the champions. They beat the challengers handily on a 3-16 to 1-07 scoreline in the league final just a short three months ago. The Leesiders also go into the game with history firmly on their side and can point to having won the ultimate prize more times than any other county except Dublin.

Experience will not be a problem for the Cork women either, as nine of the squad which brought the title south last year are again in the lineup, - although there are several positional changes. Another chilling statistic for Galway is the fact that on the two previous occasions that the teams have met at this stage of the championships, Cork have come out firmly on top with the margins in double scores - convincing to say the least.

But Cork will not be lulled into a sense of complacency; while they won the league title comfortably in the end, they did suffer some moments of insecurity. "Galway did get some early points in that game and the final score and victory margin did not really reflect the closeness of the exchanges. We were not really certain until the final whistle that we had won, they would give you blood pressure," Cork county secretary Tracy Sheehan said on Friday.

The low key build-up suits Galway coach Tony Ward: "At the time of that league defeat we had done nothing. Most of our players were involved in third level examinations and it was a question of priorities. While we did match them for the early part of the game, the final fifteen minutes of the first half were the crucial part of the game as we lost concentration. Maintaining that at all times will be crucial on Sunday.

"I also think that the girls were not really psyched up for the final as we had beaten Kilkenny seven days earlier in the semi-final for the first time ever in a championship game."

The lessons from that league defeat have not been lost on Ward, as he has conducted over 60 sessions in Loughrea throughout the summer and a further indication of just how serious the game is being taken, is the fact that Carmel Allen, a member of the squad that went down to Cork three years ago but now among the substitutes, came back from a working holiday in the United States over a month early as Galway hope to lift the title for the first time.

A revamp of the half back line was another of the harsh realities brought home to Ward from that game, while Cork's Mary O'Connor at centre forward is certain to have given him much to mull over during those sessions. But O'Connor is not the only problem for Ward, as Cork have a strong spine running down their team from Kathleen Costine between the posts, through Eithne Duggan, Sandie Fitzgibbon and Vivienne Harris, who, despite her tender 17 years, helped turn the game in Cork's favour last year when she was introduced to midfield and she occupies that position this time out also.

The mercurial Linda Mellerick is another who will take much watching on the left wing. Indeed, it was Mellerick who scored what turned out to be the decisive score, a goal on the stroke of normal time, last year.

But Galway are hoping that the experience gained over the last few years will stand them in good stead. The Westerners have a good record in the College's over the last few years, while the victory of the junior squad, who won all before them two years ago, was another indication of progress and many have now progressed to senior level.

Ward has few worries about his side's scoring potential. Indeed, the Westerners forward line is considered to be one the best around, with Denise Gilligan and Veronica Curtin among the most skilful exponents to have emerged in recent years - despite the fact that their combined ages are only 33 years. Curtin is the player most feared by the champions and will almost certainly be marked closely.

Youth is very much in Galway's favour and that often brings with it the arrogance that pays little respect to either class or history. Galway will certainly be hoping so, as they seek to become only the sixth team to have their name inscribed on the O'Duffy Cup.

The junior final is also a Munster-Connacht clash, with Cork hoping to complete the double. Roscommon may have other ideas, however, a mere point separated Roscommon from achieving their place in the sun last time out and a victory here would be the ideal boost to prove that the West really is awake.