All the talk this week has been about the clash of two traditional football sides and I certainly see it that way as well. For many people, it is the dream final with Kerry and Galway both fine exponents of the best virtues and skills of the game.

But they are similar in so many other ways. They are sprinkled with flair players in all areas and execute a very simple game in delivering quick ball into the forward line. They have also shown a tremendous capacity to accumulate high scores.

One thing about Kerry is their ability to score goals at crucial stages. That would be one of my misgivings about Galway because for all their quality in the forward line, they don't score enough goals.

Both defensive sectors are very well served individually but collectively they haven't been doing as well as you would expect. You look at the likes of Sean de Paor who is probably one of the finest half backs in the country and playing very well again this year. Declan Meehan on the right side has also been a revelation,

Then you look at the full-back line and wonder how they would cope under a lot of ball. That's how Kildare got their goals against them the last day. You would feel as well that Kerry's style of play in the forward line, with their quick dispatch forward, might be very well suited to exploiting this.

Having said that, Kerry have also been individually brilliant but again, collectively, somewhat vulnerable. The half-back line, with the exception of Eamonn Fitzmaurice, has been under pressure at times. Tomas O Se, however, did have a impressive game the last day.

Still, Seamus Moyhihan at full back as been covering up for a number of inadequacies around him. He has been outstanding at times but did have some problems against Oisin McConville and Tony McEntee. The strange thing about the Kerry defence is that they do concede a lot of goal chances. If they let that happen tomorrow I expect Galway to fully punish them. Crucially, both defences have superb goalkeepers behind them in Martin McNamara and Declan O'Keeffe.

The big match-up here is clearly between Moynihan and Padraig Joyce. I think Moynihan can handle him and there may be a slight question mark over Joyce's fitness after his minor virus complaint that he had a couple of weeks back. If he's anyway less than 100 per cent it may be telling.

I have a feeling Moynihan is such a quality defender and talented footballer that he may just shade it but again, the Galway forward line as a whole will be very difficult to handle.

If one or two of them can break free of their markers then they have the ability to bring others into the game. So far, Padraig Joyce has been demanding the most ball and showing the most leadership and even if he is not as prominent tomorrow, the other five are certainly good enough to compensate. I can see Derek Savage assuming a bigger role than the past and Michael Donnellan at least repeating what he's done up to now. But it may be too much to expect Joyce to produce another leading role given the fact that he is facing Moynihan.

But you have to look at midfield as well which is going to be another crucial area. Kerry appear to have the advantage in that Darragh O Se showed some phenomenal fitness levels in the entire replay against Armagh. He also applied a greater level of concentration to his game. Donal Daly does a lot of the groundwork and together they should have an edge on Galway's duo.

Still, I have great time for Joe Bergin but I don't know if he will get the support he needs from Sean O Domhnaill to make his maximum impact. Of course they do have Kevin Walsh in reserve. He has a calmness and authority about him and an ability to pass the ball with superb quality to the forwards. He mightn't be the quickest player on the field but I expect his entry will be watched with a lot of interest, especially if Galway are struggling at midfield.

To be honest, I wasn't surprised to see Maurice Fitzgerald stay on the bench. He hasn't been starting in the championship this summer and Kerry's forward line as a whole has been performing very well. But it was a very difficult decision for Paidi O Se and it may well determine his future as Kerry manager.

One might look at the likes of Noel Kennelly and wonder why Fitzgerald doesn't get in ahead of him. But the style Fitzgerald has can be sometimes at odds with the other players around him. It was a brave call for O Se and a frustrating one for Fitzgerald. However, I have a feeling that his entry may well decide how the game will go.

Overall though, this has to be one of the most difficult games to predict. Looking at the weather forecast, it could be a wet day and that will always be a factor. Another factor is sure to be Mike Frank Russell. He is the sort of individual that can change a game and if he makes the impact that he's had in the last couple of games then he may well be the key advantage for Kerry.

They are both hugely sporting teams and in many ways this has been the year when football has eclipsed hurling as a spectacle. It could be a tremendous final but on the basis of Kerry's inside line having that ability to score goals at crucial times, I feel the result may eventually swing in their favour. But I wouldn't say that with any great degree of confidence.

In an interview with Ian O'Riordan