Éamonn Fitzmaurice: This isn't the day to dance on Dublin's grave but...

Dublin’s conditioning has been one of their greatest strengths but they were out on their feet early Saturday. They longed for a period of possession to take the sting out of the match but Mayo, to their immense credit, wouldn’t allow it.

Enda Hession celebrates with family and friends in Croke Park after Mayo’s defeat of Dublin in the All-Ireland football semi-final. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie

For the first time since 2014, we get to parse and analyse an All-Ireland final not featuring Dublin. The game needed the change. While that may annoy Dublin supporters, their unprecedented success in the intervening years has robbed us of one of the most important elements of sport — unpredictability.

When they won the first of their six-in-a-row in the rain in 2015, back-to-back All-Irelands were considered an incredible achievement. Dublin have rewritten the record books. During those years, to beat them (as I well know), a team had to deliver a note-perfect performance, or else Dublin’s quality and athleticism would win out. In the end, of course, it had to be Mayo to deliver the knockout blow. Regardless of who comes through from the other side of the draw when the Covid-related issues are eventually resolved, it is going to make for some All-Ireland weekend and final.