After A lengthy rest period of three weeks, the women's football teams from Monaghan and Waterford match up again tomorrow in a bid to capture the 25th All-Ireland Championship title. Although there was a view that the smart money lay with Waterford going into the drawn final, Monaghan, stung that they were not afforded the accolades they deserved as back-to-back champions, promptly made a mockery of the predictions, blitzing Waterford with three first-half goals and eventually earning a draw.

Much emphasis was placed on the fact that Waterford had ransacked their opponents in a League semi-final last May and Monaghan manager Mickey Morgan admitted that that defeat by 18 points had preyed upon his side in the build-up to the All-Ireland. "It was certainly a fear," he said. "We were all too aware of what they were capable of and it was a factor as we approached the final. But we learned that we could live with them and were possibly a little surprised to find ourselves in the position we did at half-time, because Monaghan are traditionally a slow-starting side.

"We got our halves wrong. But the bottom line is that I think that we have the potential to improve tomorrow more so than Water ford."

Waterford's lacklustre first half, during which they combined for a mere seven points, made the contrast with their second half all the more startling.

"Well, I think people severely under-estimated the strength of the wind that day," said Waterford manager Michael Ryan. "It was tough for both teams playing against it. But that we conceded three first-half goals was a concern. And the fourth goal we gave away was the most disappointing. If we do that tomorrow, we'll be beaten."

Ryan said that while there was a degree of worry at half-time, the players never felt they were out of the game.

"We knew we would come back. And that we hit 16 points in the game is tremendously reassuring. We have proven we can kick scores and come back under pressure," he said.

While he was a bit mystified as to Waterford's sluggish start - they hit Clare for 10 points in the first 15 minutes in the Munster Championship - he dismissed suggestions of complacency.

"You know, we heard all this talk about Monaghan not having the appetite, that they were tired. Well, that was shown to be humbug three weeks ago. They are the champions, and when a winning team get to a final, all the old eagerness returns and they are hard beaten," he said.

That Monaghan are tracing an third consecutive title makes this replay especially precious.

"No one will ever touch the nine in a row completed by Kerry in the '80s," said Mickey Morgan. "But the way this competition is going now, three will be hard beaten.

"I think the county probably needs this to sustain the interest. There are young kids watching now and they see the players on TV and this is their dream."

Morgan has retained the same 15 for the replay, although he has made positional switches. As expected, the Waterford team has been altered to accommodate the return of Annalisa Crotty at winghalf back. The under-age prodigy has developed into a vital cog in the county senior side.

"I rate her as the best defender in the country but while she has returned to practice, she has no match practice of late. But she is a huge presence on the field, very influential," Ryan said.

Triona White comes in at corner back, having impressed in the drawn game, and Mary O'Donnell, who stepped in for the injured Crotty, is retained at wingforward.

Both teams admitted to relief and disappointment after the drawn game. Waterford felt that they ought to have won the match until they watched a video later and realised that Monaghan had three excellent chances to snatch a winning score late on. Monaghan can look wistfully at those chances but can also recall Waterford turning a point chance wide with eight seconds left. If both teams gather an equal amount of possession - as was the case the last day - this title could fall to whichever side shows more efficiency in the final third of the pitch. Waterford may have the edge in this regard.

Monaghan: B McAnespie; C Brady, M Kelly, A O'Reilly; A O'Reilly, E McElvaney, J Treanor; J Greenan, L Farrelly; M Keirans, A Larkin, N Kindlon; E Byrne, B Swift, D Dempsey. Subs: M Gray, O O'Reilly, M Murphy, I Kierans, M Croarkin, U Rooney, D McCaffery, C McGuin ness, C Mulligan, B McGinn, D Mulligan.

Waterford: S Hickey; T White, S O'Ryan, N Walsh; A Crotty, D O'Rourke, J Torpey; C Casey, O Condon; M O'Donnell, M O'Ryan, R Hallahan; C Ryan, A Wall, G O'Ryan. Subs: P Walsh, F Crotty, D Nagle, R Byrne, H Fitzpatrick, A Walsh, B Hannigan, M Troy.