All-Ireland football semi-final: Last weekend showed how hard it is to shake a losing semi-final record.

Although Cork can argue about their misfortune in running into Kerry in all three unsuccessful penultimate ventures in the past five years, they still have to break the demoralising sequence as they face up to a Meath team largely new to this altitude in tomorrow's Bank of Ireland All-Ireland football semi-final.

Cork's experience should be an advantage - though losing can easily stop being instructive and become a bad habit - but not for the first time they also have to factor in some bad injury news with the loss of the championship's top scorer, James Masters.

Meath have their own worries with two central personalities, Darren Fay and Anthony Moyles - between them a harder package to replace than even Masters - teetering on the brink of unavailability all week. Fay will probably play; a decision on Moyles will be left as late as possible.

Colm Coyle's side are favourites on the back of their defeat of Tyrone, but against a team that underperformed Meath still left many chances at the Ulster champions' disposal in the closing 10 minutes.

There was, however, much to admire in their hard work, ball-winning capacity at centrefield and fluently mixed approach work, combining diagonal ball and the immediacy of early deliveries into the full forwards, where Shane O'Rourke has been so impressive as a fulcrum for Stephen Bray and Brian Farrell.

Ironically, it's just such a combination that Cork are trying to adopt but their more customary running, possession-based game is proving hard to marry to the requirements of a route-one alternative, using the statuesque Michael Cussen as a target-man full forward.

Proof of this difficulty can be seen in how seldom the useful Cussen gets serviceable ball and how many of his best moments come when he is moved outfield to help win possession.

Cork have a great platform in the middle. The consistency of Nicholas Murphy and his regular partner Derek Kavanagh has been supplemented by Pearse O'Neill dropping back from centre forward even before Cussen gets the call.

The problem is that Cork have too many ball winners and not enough scorers. With Masters gone Donnacha O'Connor is the only proven scorer in the attack. Daniel Goulding has potential and John Miskella scored the goal against Sligo, but Cork have yet to ignite going forward this season.

Assuming he plays, Fay will have a significant role. Reborn this season, the Meath full back can expect to face the physique of Cussen and the energy of O'Connor or Goulding at various stages. Although big enough himself, Fay has always been somewhat more of a footballing full back than a traditional guardian of the square, but he will need to be fully fit to cope.

Scores will be harder to come by than in Meath's previous matches, because Graham Canty can be expected to counter O'Rourke more effectively than Tyrone managed, and there won't be the same supply around the inside line.

The question is whether Cork's defensive virtues can overcome their attacking limitations.

In the last episode: Although it's eight years since they last met, this is a recurrent rivalry. Forty years and 20 years ago the counties met in All-Ireland finals, Meath winning both.

Of the three finals since (1988, which went to a replay, 1990 and 1999) Cork have won just the middle one.

Both sides have survivors from 1999 - Darren Fay, Nigel Crawford and Graham Geraghty for Meath and Anthony Lynch and Nicholas Murphy of Cork.

You bet: For all the uncertainty, the Cork team are a well fancied 6 to 4 with Meath 8 to 11 and the draw available at 13 to 2. With handicap Cork are (+2) 8 to 11, Meath (-2) 11 to 8 and the draw (+2) 15 to 2.

On your marks: Daniel Goulding's call-up was inevitable once Masters was ruled out. The under-21 All-Ireland winner brought class and scoring menace to that successful campaign but this is a big step up. His ability to cover the free-taking duties is not in doubt, but replacing the Nemo man's threat in general play will be a major challenge and Cork have to get scores.

Gaining ground: Six years ago in their last semi-final Meath gave Kerry a hiding but their form since until this season at Croke Park had been terrible. The defeat of Tyrone was the county's first appearance in an All-Ireland quarter-final since 2001.

Cork have lost their last three semi-finals here - all to Kerry.

Their last win at this stage was over Mayo in 1999.

Just the ticket: Stand tickets are €45 and terrace tickets €30.

Crystal gazing: There's little doubt that Cork will be a dangerous proposition from one to nine, confronting Meath with the best defence they've encountered and the most formidable centrefield.

But reservations about the potency of Billy Morgan's attack make Meath the more likely finalists.

CORK: A Quirke; M Shields, G Canty, K O'Connor; N O'Leary, G Spillane, A Lynch; D Kavanagh, N Murphy; J Miskella, P O'Neill, K McMahon; D Goulding, M Cussen, D O'Connor.

MEATH: To be announced tonight.

Referee: Brian Crowe(Cavan).