KERRY manager Paidi O Se yesterday identified his team's primary incentive for success in Sunday's National Football League final against Cork in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

The motivation for his team has more to do with Kerry winning their first national football title since 1986 than any perceived attempt to undermine great southern rivals ahead of a possible Munster final clash next July.

It's a long time for Kerry to be off the national titles list," rues O Se.

The likely championship clash is deemed light years away in both camps and is considered to have no relevance to Sunday's League decider.

Cork manager Larry Tompkins fully agrees. A lot can happen between now and July. We have a very difficult first round game against Clare in June and we are certainly not looking beyond that." The Cork manager refutes the notion that Sunday's teams will be viewing the match as something of a dress rehearsal for the championship. "It might be different in some of the other provinces where you could be playing a championship match a few weeks later but in Monster it is very important for Cork or Kerry to do well in the League because we wouldn't be playing championship for another seven weeks or so".

Whereas O Se welcomes the news that Gene Farrell and Dara O Cinneide are in contention to regain their places following injury, there are doubts about the current fitness levels of wing back Seamus Moynihan and midfielder William Kirby. Moynihan has a back problem while Kirby is currently walking gingerly on an ankle injury.

Tompkins's attacking options have improved considerably with the news that Joe Kavanagh has returned from Australia where he was based for the past six months. His last match with Cork was in last year's Munster final.

Cork are likely to make readjustments to their defence to counter the threat posed by Maurice Fitzgerald who scored 2-5 to unhinge Kildare's bid in the semi final.

John Maughan, Mayo's manager who plotted the downfall of Paid O Se's youthful side in last year's, All Ireland football semi final, is convinced that Kerry have since addressed the shortcomings they showed in that game last August.

However, the astute Maughan contends that Cork's stronger physical, presence will be central to deciding Sunday's League final.

"When you look at the strength and depth of the Cork side, they do appear to have greater aces and particularly when you look at their bench, they seem to have greater experience and physical strength there as well."

Maughan will pay little heed to the respective team formations issued this week to the press.

"Looking at Larry Tompkins's tactics in a lot of games he has played he has toyed about with positions. What he puts out on paper and what actually ends up in positions can be completely at variance with what he selects," Maughan said.

As is a manager's wont, Maughan enjoys figuring out likely strategies when analysing a game. They (Cork) might pick for example Steven O'Brien at centre half forward but he might end up playing full forward," he says.

And what of Kerry's likely reaction to such a move? If they do that Kerry won't be hoodwinked as other teams were in past matches," says Maughan.

Maughan says that the controversial defeat of the Kerry under 21 side in Saturday's All Ireland semi final against Meath could have an adverse effect on some of the senior players involved in that particular set back. They will be peeved because of this and it might have a small bearing on Sunday's outcome.

Maughan believes that Kildare provided the toughest test in the semi finals. "I thought Laois didn't play particularly well against Kerry in the semi final. We played them in the League and kicked about 19 wides. To be honest, I was surprised they got to the semi finals."

Maughan is also aware of the current Kerry team's failure to win anything. "They will be going hammer and tongs to rectify this."

"However," adds Maughan, "it is a swan song for a Cahalane and quite a few of the Cork boys. The fact also that the big guy (Colin Corkery) is returning (from honeymoon) for the game shows a certain intent on Cork's behalf.

. Dublin's championship hopes were dealt a blow in an intermediate club match on Sunday when Ciaran Whelan broke his aim.

. Limerick's hurlers could be without their goalkeeper Joe Quaid for their Munster championship meeting with Waterford in the middle of next month. Quaid underwent surgery yesterday and is likely to be out of the game for some time following an injury sustained during Limerick's win over Laois at Kilmallock.