Looking at the pre-match parade yesterday it struck me that Donegal were the more conditioned team and had a big advantage in terms of height and physique, especially in attack.

Although Donegal only won by two points on the scoreboard, they were really five or six points a better team than Cork on the day.

A deserved win for Donegal on a day when their blanket defence passed its biggest test so far.

1. Big statement from the eventual winner

This was the modern game in all its glory.

After losing to Cork in their final game of the Allianz League, Pat Gilroy had plenty of food for thought.

One of the coldest days in Croke Park for a long time, a swirling wind, small crowd, muted atmosphere and a Division Two final lacking real Championship intensity.

As a Meath U21 selector in 2009 and 2010 one of my briefs was to look at as many club championship matches as possible.

When you are retired from inter-county football and go to watch matches, you quickly forget that most of the players on view are probably carrying some form of injury or returning from a spell out injured.