Rory Kavanagh to lead the Warm Up in All-Ireland final day show at Croke Park

Donegal’s 2012 All-Ireland winner Rory Kavanagh will be part of the GAA’s official pre-match entertainment at Croke Park this Sunday as part of the build-up to the 137th All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final.

Kavanagh, who was a key member of the Donegal side that famously defeated Mayo in the 2012 decider under Jim McGuinness, will join the GAA’s live pre-match show ‘The Warm Up’, which will be shown on the big screens inside Croke Park and streamed online for all the world to see.

Hosted by Aisling O’Reilly and Dave McIntyre, the show will feature analysis and predictions from Kavanagh, Kerry great Marc Ó Sé and Dublin’s Paddy Andrews as excitement builds towards the 3.30pm throw-in.

Kavanagh’s inclusion in the matchday line-up is a nod to the clash between Kerry and Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland final – a game that ended in heartbreak for Donegal as Kerry went on to lift Sam Maguire.

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The Warm Up show, which begins live from 2pm, is part of an enhanced fan experience at headquarters for the 82,300 supporters expected to pack into Croke Park. It will also be available to viewers around the world via GAA.ie/thewarmup, Facebook Live, YouTube and on the @OfficialGAA social media channels.

In addition to ‘The Warm Up’, the day will include live music from Fiach Moriarty and John Byrne, pre-match entertainment on the Cusack Stand concourse from 1.30pm, and fan giveaways including a jersey cannon firing kits into the crowd.

The pitch show will feature drummers, pyrotechnics and a celebration of the 2000 All-Ireland winning Kerry team, with jubilee captain Séamus Moynihan carrying the Sam Maguire trophy to the pitch.

Donegal’s campaign in that 2000 championship was short but certainly not sweet. In what was the last championship played prior to the introduction of the back door, Donegal were knocked out by Fermanagh in the Ulster quarter-final.

But back to happier thoughts and this Sunday’s All-Ireland final. President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins will attend in what will be his final official GAA engagement.

The teams will parade before throw-in behind the Artane School of Music, with additional musical accompaniment from Scór winners Drumcliffe Rosses Point of Sligo.