Cork can lay Down marker

TONIGHT'S rematch of last year's All-Ireland final should attract plenty of neutral interest.

Cork, of course, are champions and seem to be heading back towards the same level of form which transformed them from bridesmaids to brides last September.

Even most of the faces are the same. Conor Counihan has named 11 of the team that started that final for tonight's reunion with Down with only Alan Quirke and Graham Canty still to return from injury.

Down are missing All Stars in goalie Brendan McVeigh and forward Benny Coulter, and while they are a rapidly emerging force one thing is near certain in gaelic football just now: Cork don't lose at home.

ODDS: Cork 4/9, Draw 15/2, Down 9/4

VERDICT: Cork

MAYO v ARMAGH, Castlebar, tom 2.30

Fans of Mayo football must be wondering why they have so many deserters just now.

Tomorrow in Castlebar, Billy Joe Padden -- a man who made 60 appearance in the green and red -- will line out for his adopted county, Armagh, while in Aughrim, Austin O'Malley will make his debut for Wicklow.

James Horan is in the process of bringing though a raft of younger players but it wouldn't do any harm to have a few old wise heads on board either.

Mayo have made the better start to Division 1 but neither of these teams seem ready to break into the elite just yet.

Armagh still lack guile in attack and Mayo should be able to exploit that to the turn of two league points here.

ODDS: Mayo 4/9, Draw 15/2, Armagh 9/4

VERDICT: Mayo

KERRY v GALWAY, Killarney, tom 2.30

ORDINARILY, this fixture might have stoked some pride in Tomás Ó Flatharta as he leads his adopted county out against his native tribe but given the state in which Galway find themselves, he'd likely just best avoid a hammering.

Little surprise that he has again revamped the team with Finnian Hanley and Joe Bergin now manning the midfield spots.

Kerry are set to welcome Tom O'Sullivan and Killian Young back and they remain a serious outfit.

ODDS: Kerry 1/7, Draw 12/1, Galway 5/1

VERDICT: Kerry