Thousands of Down GAA fans are making last minute preparations as excitement builds ahead of this weekend’s All-Ireland senior football final clash with Cork in Dublin.
Tickets are at a premium for the game at Croke Park as Down aim for a sixth Sam Maguire trophy.
This will be the first time the two teams have met in the final.
For Cork, Sunday’s game will represent their third final in four years. They last won the trophy in 1990.
Down have reached the final on five other occasions since the first All-Ireland Championship in 1887.
They have won won the cup in each final appearance, with their last victory coming in 1994.
Comedian and presenter, Patrick Kielty, is to travel from London to be among the Down fans at Sunday’s final.
He joked that “fly-by-night supporters” should be able to get tickets for the sporting showpiece.
“When you are watching the game in Downpatrick and I’ve got your seat be grateful that you have given it up for me,” he added.
Ross Carr, who played for Down in their All-Ireland title wins of 1991 and 1994, said he was “pretty confident” the county would triumph on Sunday as well.
His son Aidan is one of four Down panel members whose fathers have won All-Ireland medals.
“I’m not just a supporter, I’m a terrified parent hoping that Aidan gets some part in the game,” Ross added.
“It is very hard to be an impartial parent.
“We have tried to keep Aidan’s spirits up all week and tried to keep a low-profile.
“If he wants to talk about the game we talk about it, and if he doesn’t we don’t bother – we have plenty of other wars within the house to fight!
“But it’s been great, 16 years have passed, and I suppose at the start of 2010 no-one in their right mind would have thought we would be participating in an All-Ireland final.”
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