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BETWEEN 1996 and 1998 Galway and Cork appeared in three successive All-Ireland senior finals. Galway won their first ever title in the first of those finals and then lost the next two, 18th and 19th crowns going to Leeside. By the evening of the 2024 All-Ireland final Cork had reached 30 titles with a 1-16 to 0-16 win over the Connacht side. Last year Galway turned the tables on the Rebels and moved up to five titles. The scene is set on Sunday for another two-to-one divide in this their second trilogy of finals with Galway looking to move level with Antrim on six titles and claim their first back-to-back double. They looked short-priced favourites to do just that after they beat Waterford in the League Final for their eighth title in that competition. By contrast Cork had started the year poorly. The Mackey twins, plus Aoife Healy and Laura Treacy had all stepped back, each after long service in the red jersey. Dual player Hannah Looney was off to try her hand at Aussie Rules. Those five alone had collected a total of 21 All-stars and 28 All-Ireland medals. Then there were a few injuries and the absence of the St Finbarr’s contingent after their All-Ireland club campaign had extended into a replay in January. Defeats to Waterford and then Antrim in the first two games in the Centra National League were the catalyst for the St Finbarr’s crew filtering back into the set-up. Cork beat a young Kilkenny team in the next game but lost to Galway and drew with Tipperary to finish a single point above the Saffrons, who were relegated to Division 1B. Then defeat to Tipperary in the opening game of the Munster championship. No wonder they were dropping down the betting order. That all changed in the first group game of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland series – a 0-18 to 1-8 victory over champions Galway in Kenny Park, Athenry. Yes, Galway had a few players out with injuries and Niamh Mallon left the game early with a shoulder problem – she has yet to return to action. But it was a statement of intent from Leeside. Their injury problems were clearing up. Laura Hayes was back. Ashling Thompson would also come back into the team over the course of the group games, which they completed undefeated before making another huge statement in the semi-final against Tipperary a fortnight ago. They scored 2-11 in the first half with just one point not from play, an Amy O’Connor free - and no wides. Cork eased through the second half and into a sixth successive final. The more experienced players stood up to the test – goalie Amy Lee pulled off an excellent save, Libby Coppinger was player of the match at full-back, Hayes and Thompson ruled midfield, while Saoirse McCarthy, Sorcha McCartan, and Amy O’Connor wreaked havoc in the forward line. Newer players also stood out: Millie Condon with serious workrate and a powerful shot to the net, Emma Murphy with four super points, even Orla Mullins coming off the bench to shoot two late points. Yes, Cork are back. But Galway never really went away after losing that opening game in Athenry. Since then they have been stoic in claiming their place in a third successive final. A three-point win over Waterford followed by a comfortable 3-17 to 0-15 win over Tipperary and, a fortnight ago, they controlled the semi-final with Kilkenny. But that semi-final came at a cost with a number of players departing the pitch with injuries – Aoife Donohue, Dervla Higgins and then Sabina Rabbitte just a few minutes after coming off the bench. Carrie Dolan was also injured but had to remain on the pitch as Cathal Murray had run his bench by that point. At last Thursday’s media night there were plenty of questions about the injuries, but “too soon to comment” the response. Back to the performance though. It was controlled and comfortable. Like Cork, the experienced stalwarts are delivering the goods – Rachel Hannify, Higgins, Dolan, Donohue, and Ailish O’Reilly, while teenager Caoimhe Kelly has carried her club form with Athenry through to her debut season at county level. Will those injuries to players in the semi-final clear up? Can others like Shauna Healy and Mallon come back into the frame for starting jerseys? The Galway starting team will frame the speculation as to who might win this showdown. Last year, Galway at full strength re-shaped their team and took control of the game with Cork only able to get level in the dying moments. Even then Carrie Dolan had ice in her veins as she delivered the winning point from a difficult free. If all the injuries have cleared Galway will be favourites. Cork, though, are changed from last year. The injection of youth has worked well – so far. But they face their biggest test tomorrow.