Cork U21 manager Sean Hayes says his players being freed up from senior duty has made a huge difference this year.

Having stormed to a Munster title before seeing off Ulster champions Monaghan, the Rebels head into Saturday's All-Ireland final as 8/11 favourites against Mayo in Ennis, where they will be looking for a record setting 12th title.

The fact that Hayes has had the majority of his stars available to him throughout this season has been hugely significant, according to the Leesiders boss.

"Only Peter (Kelleher) and Stephen (Cronin), and Kieran (Histon) to a lesser degree, have played senior football for Cork," Hayes said in today's Irish Examiner.

"Other years you might have four or five, so that does make a difference.

"We've been together a lot more all through the year playing matches when we didn't have guys playing senior. We didn't have very many playing Sigerson either, that was a help to us in the long run. We've grown well together as a team and hopefully that'll stand to us."

Cork take on Mayo this Saturday at Cusack Park, where throw-in is scheduled for 6pm.

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