Brian Clarke(Kerry full forward)

Pat Holmes (Mayo full back)

Clarke - Age: 22. Height: 6' 1["]. Weight: 13st 10lbs.

Club: Dr Crokes. Honours: All-Ireland VS 1992, Under-21 1996, NFL 1997, Munster SFC 1997.

Championship debut: v Mayo 1996 (as a substitute), v Clare 1997.

Appearances 1997: Two. Substituted 1997: v Clare (49 mins), v Cavan (48 mins).

Scored 1997: 0-1 (v Clare), 0-1 (v Cavan).

Reaction to the season? "My impressions of championship football is that it's a totally different kettle of fish to what I've been used to over the years. In League games, you don't have the passion of the crowd and the hype that surrounds the game and the speed of it."

Most memorable match this season? "The Cavan match got us to here. After going in at half-time a point down, other teams might have faded away, but we showed some fighting spirit."

Most difficult? "I think we let ourselves down against Tipperary, even though Tipperary played us quite well. We didn't move the ball well, but we have since."

Best of the rest? "Meath were very unlucky with their injuries and sendings-off in the Leinster semi-final."

Is the standard of football improving? "I think the standard is improving and the way teams are addressing the championship is much better. Teams are much more serious in the build-up."

How intense is the media pressure? "You're under the spotlight all the time. The media pressure will be phased out the week before the match and we'll keep our heads away from the papers."

Inside view: Seamus Mac Gearalit (Kerry coach) - "Brian is a good target man in front of goal - of course the team isn't picked yet, we don't know what shape it's going to be - and he's a great head for the game."

Outside View: Martin McHugh (outgoing Cavan manager) - "Clarke would have been seen as a basketball player and therefore strong in the air.

He's a bit of pace and is able to pick off points off either foot."

Holmes - Age: 30. Height: 6'. Weight: 13st 9lbs. Club: Cavan Gaels. Honours: Connacht SFC 1988, '89, '92, '93, '96, 97, Connacht club SFC 1993 (with Castlebar Mitchels), Connacht U21 1986, Players' All Star 1996.

Championship debut: v Sligo 1988.

Appearances 1997: Four (two as replacement - v Galway, 43 mins, v Leitrim from start).

Substituted 1997: Not to date. Conceded 1997: 0-1 (v Galway, at corner back), 0-2 (v Sligo, at full back).

Reaction to the season? "This is definitely the best team I've been involved with. You have to give up a lot in your social life and an awful lot of your free time is taken up, but going out in Croke Park on September 28th makes up for a lot."

Most memorable match this season? "I think we played well for 35 or 40 minutes against Galway."

Most difficult? "We didn't underestimate Sligo, but a lot of people did. We didn't play as well as we should have, but we survived.

Best of the rest? "I was at the Ulster final and thought Cavan were absolutely magnificent. I thought it was a brilliant display of football and that whoever would beat Cavan would win the All-Ireland."

Is the standard of football improving? "I think the fitness levels have become so demanding, everyone is so fit that games seem to be tighter at times, but there is a huge pool of football talent in the country."

How intense is the media pressure? "It's not so much the pressure, but what the odd reporter doesn't seem to realise is that you have to do a day's work as well. I hate saying no, but you're there with a pile of stuff to clear off your desk and you get a phone call from a reporter saying `can I take up 15 minutes of your time?'. Let's say you've two or three. That takes up time."

Inside View: John Maughan (Mayo manager) - "Pat is probably playing the best football of his career. He went through a tricky patch in his mid-20s when he didn't play a lot of football for a combination of reasons. He was dropped at a critical time and his confidence would have suffered, picked up a couple of injuries and had an operation on his knee. Off season, he's not the kind of guy you'll find in the gym four or five times a week but once you get him motoring, he's outstanding."

Outside View: Declan Darcy (outgoing Leitrim captain) -"The first thing about Pat is that he's a most decent, honest down-to-earth fella and that's reflected in his play. He doesn't cut corners, just does his job well. He sticks to his task."