TYRONE will provide Kerry with a stiff All-Ireland final challenge in just over a two weeks -- and manager Mickey Harte can't wait to take on the Sam Maguire Cup holders. The Ulster side booked their place with a well deserved 0-23 to 1-14 win over surprise packets Wexford in Croke Park on Sunday.

"It's very satisfying to be back in an All-Ireland final. In the history of the GAA Tyrone haven't been in that many," said Harte.

"I suppose we've had a good run in recent years. But it fades as a distant memory and 2005 seems a long time away.

"It's a hard place to get back to and certainly we're satisfied that we're there. We're not setting the world alight, we're playing some good football and some ordinary football. But we're getting the results and it is results that really count. We're in the final and it's very good to be here."

Tyrone led by eight points at the break, but a Ciaran Lyng goal inspired a second half comeback from Wexford who got within two points of the winners at one stage.

"It's always difficult to push on with a good lead," added Harte. "You have to give credit to Wexford. They could have rolled over and died but they're made of very good stuff. They battled back and it was very much game on.

"You might say we took our foot off the pedal but that's a bit simplistic. Teams don't necessarily take their foot off the pedal, it's the other team decide to get in on the action. We had to deal with that and absorb it.

"Thankfully we had something else there in the end and a lot of credit must go to our players for grasping the nettle again, Results are everything and thankfully we have the result.

"Wexford can be proud of what they've achieved and that's not patronizing them. After the second half of the Leinster final I thought this team wouldn't be back for a few years. To come back from that and be so positive and have such a belief is a credit to everyone involved with them."

Wexford's bid for victory in their first All-Ireland semi-final in 63 years always looked a forlorn one, and manager Jason Ryan was able to pinpoint their lack of consistency in the game as a key factor.

"They went down fighting," said Ryan. "But if you only play for one half you are not going to win a game of that significance. We didn't play to a good enough standard in the first half, whether it was team selection, tactics, effort or the fact that opposition were very good.

"There were a lot of factors that contributed to it but certainly, the intensity that we played in the first half was like the intensity we played at in the second half against Dublin. If you give the opposition time on the ball they will cause you havoc."

The 25th minute injury to star forward Mattie Forde was also a factor in Wexford's loss.

"Mattie getting injured so early on meant we weren't able to isolate him and get the ball into him fast enough. There were a lot of factors that contributed to it as opposed to just one thing," added Ryan.

Harte believes Sean Cavanagh will be fit for the All-Ireland final after a back injury forced him out of the win while Brian McGuigan should overcome another eye injury.

"Stephen has three weeks before the final so he should be grand," said Harte.

"Brian got a bang in the eye actually and that was a bit disconcerting for him. He has a lens in there and everybody was a bit concerned as you would be, considering what he has come through with that eye injury.

"Hopefully.I think he was happy enough that it hadn't impaired his vision."

Kerry Wins

A LATE Colm Cooper goal put paid to another Cork revival as All-Ireland champions Kerry booked their final date with Tyrone in Sunday's semifinal replay at Croke Park by a score of 3-14 to 2-13.

The Kingdom were nine points to the good at one stage before Cork threatened another magical comeback when they pulled level with five minutes remaining before Cooper's killer goal.

"It had all that is good in the game and it was a great advertisement for Gaelic football," claimed Kerry boss Pat O'Shea afterwards.

"In general I didn't think there was a whole pile of dirty blows in the match. Sure, the rivalry is intense but Kerry and Cork wouldn't have it any other way.

"Cork displayed fierce character, fierce composure in what was another gripping encounter. You have to give our opponents great credit for the way they pulled down that massive lead. Another team would have folded up their tent and went away, but not Cork. They are a very good side and I have to say we were fortunate to get over the line."

The Cork camp knew exactly what O'Shea was talking about after another near thing at headquarters.

"Unfortunately, we have ourselves to blame to a certain extent," said a disappointed Cork manager Conor Counihan.

"We left ourselves with a lot to do. We started well but we didn't put scores on the board. That was a troublesome for us. The longer that went, Kerry were gaining in the momentum and gaining in belief. We went out of the game for quite a bit at that stage.

"I suppose we were fortunate enough to get a goal at halftime and drag ourselves back into it. We came out for the second half saying we were really going to throw everything at it and within a minute or two we were down another four points."

Counihan was quick to praise his players, however, at the end of his first year in charge.

"There's something about these fellows," he said. "They just don't give up, they kept pushing on. A lot of that group over the past five or six years have been knocking at the door trying to kick it down. Today there was a bit of light at the door for the first time but unfortunately it was shut again."

Kerry expect to have Kieran Donaghy available for the All-Ireland final against Tyrone despite a recurring knee problem, while Darragh O Se and Paul Galvin will both be available after suspension.

"To be honest about it we are just assessing Kieran at the moment so we won't know," said O'Shea. "It's his knee and we'll just have to take a look at it and see. It's a complaint he's had in the last couple of games.

"I was disappointed for Darragh that he was sent off and that he missed the Cork game. He'd performed over 15 years of a brilliant career, I would have hated for him to have gone out being sent off in his last game."

Waterford Ready

WATERFORD are just days away from their eagerly anticipated All-Ireland hurling final clash against Kilkenny on Sunday, with veteran star Dave Bennett adamant they won't freeze at Croke Park on Sunday.

"You could wonder, what if Kilkenny blitz us like they did Limerick?" admitted Bennett.

"But you can't get into a negative frame of mind. I don't believe stage fright will be a problem because you're talking about 36 fellas and a county that has waited for so long.

"We're more worried about 15 men in Kilkenny jerseys than stage fright."

Kilkenny have former under-21 team captain Michael Fennelly available for selection.

Whelan Waits

DUBLIN footballer Ciaran Whelan has refused to add to the speculation about his retirement plans as the County awaits the appointment of a new manager.

"A couple of weeks after a defeat is not the right time to be thinking of your future and I'll reflect for another while yet before I make a decision," Whelan told Star Sunday.

"A new manager coming in means a new and a clean slate for everyone. You can't and shouldn't be picked on reputation alone. There may be players that the new manager will not want."

GAA Shorts

THE Limerick County Board has drawn up a list of 10 candidates to replace Richie Bennis as hurling manager, although a legal issue over the selection committee may delay their decision. Former manager Tom Ryan and Bennis have both been nominated along with Justin McCarthy, Tony Considine and Ciaran

Carey . . .

DONEGAL football boss Brian McIver has quit his position after three years in charge after negativity from some quarters when he attended a county board meeting on Monday . . .

TOMAS Mulcahy has emerged as a real contender for the Cork hurling job if Gerald McCarthy decides against another term in office . . .

FORMER Kerry boss Jack O'Connor is the new favorite to replace Paul Caffrey as manager of the Dublin footballers . . .

FORMER Down boss Paddy O'Rourke is leading the chase to become the new Cavan senior football team manager . . .

FORMER Armagh boss Joe Kernan has succeeded Brian McEniff as the manager of the Ulster Railway Cup team . . .

YOUNG Limerick footballer Ian Ryan has turned down an offer to join Aussie Rules side Essendon . . .

LIAM Sheedy is to be re-appointed as manager of the Tipperary hurling team for next season . . .

SEAMUS McEnaney has taken up a one year extension as manager of the Monaghan footballers.