When Diarmuid Connolly sat back into the pocket, setting himself up for power fade with the outside of his right boot, in a similar way to Ronan O’Gara and the Grand Slam drop goal over a decade ago, I thought perhaps the story was written in the stars for the prodigal son to return home with the fattened calf.

David Gough was the right man for this All-Ireland final — I maintained that from a good bit out — and seeing him give one of the best refereeing displays in a football final wasn’t unexpected.

Dublin and Kerry will have to battle it out again on Saturday, September 14 (6pm throw-in), after this absorbing if error-strewn tussle finished tied.

Diarmuid Connolly’s first Championship start for Dublin in 26 months was marked with a win as Dublin confirmed their All-Ireland semi-final against Mayo this Saturday.

Dean Rock and Cillian O’Connor will both have similar feelings this morning.

Fourteen-man Dublin extended their winning run to 25 games in the Leinster senior football championship with this facile victory in O’Moore Park.

Jim Gavin dug deep into his all-conquering Dublin panel with impressive consequences as the three-in-a-row All-Ireland winners signed off on their Super 8s campaign in style.

By the 58th minute, the minds of the Dublin faithful had wandered elsewhere. Passes were cheered as their team picked at the bones of the Kerry carcass.

Negativity, according to new GAA president John Horan, attracts more attention than positivity so it was with extra emphasis that he delivered a plea to Congress delegates on Saturday.

Dublin 0-20 Donegal 0-15: Dublin manager Jim Gavin insists that attacker Diarmuid Connolly remains part of the All-Ireland champions’ panel and could make a return to duty in their next game.

Wexford 1-12 Dublin 0-14: Barry O’Connor scored the crucial point three minutes into additional time as Wexford scored a rare and famous victory over Dublin in this exciting O’Byrne Cup senior football game at St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, yesterday.

There was late drama at today's EirGrid All-Ireland U21 football semi-final between Mayo and Dublin at O’Connor Park in Tullamore.

Senior panellist Con O'Callaghan starred again for Dublin with 1-7 but Cillian O'Shea was the game breaker in Navan with a vital late goal to secure a three-in-a-row of EirGrid Leinster U-21 football titles.

Kildare 3-16 Dublin 3-13: A devastating scoring blitz before half-time paved the way for Kildare’s victory over Paddy Christie’s Dublin in yesterday’s Electric Ireland Leinster minor football semi-final at Croke Park.