Although these clubs met only two years ago in the AIB club football final, the scenery has changed quite a bit. Crossmolina are under new management and although Mayo manager John Maughan is hugely experienced, this afternoon creates great pressure for him.

He played centre back on the Castlebar team destroyed by Nemo in 1994 and took Mayo to two All-Ireland defeats. Another one today is about the last thing he will want heading into the summer. Yet if Crossmolina repeat their win of 2001, there won't be commensurate kudos in winning an All-Ireland with a side that already has one.

Stakes are curiously reversed for Billy Morgan. It's very much an historical blip for Nemo to have lost two All-Irelands on the trot but should they lose another, the verdict is more likely to reflect on this generation of players rather than the management.

Should they win, it will count as a considerable feat - given that no side has bounced back from two All-Ireland defeats to win one.

So how do the teams compare with two years ago? It is likely that Nemo went into the match in an over-confident mood. No club from Mayo had won this championship and only one from Connacht. By half-time it looked as if the game was up for Crossmolina and the Cork champions were conspicuously unable to respond when the tempo was raised.

Chief amongst Nemo's tormentors was Kieran McDonald at centre forward. He proved far too mobile for Steven O'Brien and by the time there was a switch Crossmolina had the momentum.

This afternoon that will not happen again. O'Brien has been redeployed to the other 40 where his ability to get on ball and distribute intelligently made him man of the match in the semi-final against Errigal Ciaran. Pivoting the defence and marking McDonald will probably be Martin Cronin whose aggression and athleticism makes him a far harder bargain for Crossmolina's best forward.

James Nallen's speed and craft was a vital influence for the Connacht champions two years ago. He is too strong mentally to be easily undermined but Crossmolina - and Nallen himself - would prefer the player to be in better form going into this.

Nemo do not appear to be relying on Colin Corkery to the same extent as previously. Alan Cronin is more of a scoring threat than he was and Joe Kavanagh is picking up some of his old form. Take McDonald out of the Crossmolina attack and they will struggle for inspiration.

Nemo have better cover. The Cork side's main weakness will be their opponents' greater mobility. This was a feature of the final two years ago and in the meantime the Croke Park pitch has got a lot wider.

But on the basis that Nemo are both better and forewarned whereas Crossmolina, as the Dunshaughlin semi-final demonstrated when it was 15-a-side, look less formidable, the scene is set for a rare act of revenge in this championship.

Crossmolina (Mayo) v Nemo Rangers (Cork) Croke Park, 3.40. On TV: TG4