Indefatigable Donegal can finally complete their journey of discovery

Few can think of as romantic a final but only because Donegal and Mayo decided their rosy days were few.

Aristocrats of the game they were but more so kings without crowns, ignorant of what they had to do to reclaim the throne.

Such wistfulness has been cast aside now. Thanks to Jim McGuinness and James Horan, both teams play with an attitude that screams of merchant pragmatism.

To scale the final peak now, hands need to be dirtied and both teams are no stranger to cynical tactics.

There is still room for adventure, mind. Marvel at how Mark McHugh, dismissed as a de facto defender last year, swaps shield for sword in the blink of an eye. Gaze at Kevin McLoughlin’s ability to conjure a gain from a guard.

Individuality isn’t necessarily jettisoned but it is certainly on a leash and it’s unlikely we’ll see a rare moment of genius making the difference tomorrow.

What we can expect are turnovers, and plenty of them. They are becoming a more appreciated skill in the game. Aidan O’Shea’s snaffling from Denis Bastick and Michael Darragh Macauley in the first half against Dublin was roundly and rightly applauded.

McLoughlin’s speed is his forte but his ability to win dirty ball and spoil defenders clearing their lines are two major assets. Besides midfield, where Barry Moran and Aidan O’Shea will be dutied with spoiling Neil Gallagher’s day, McLoughlin and Dillon are of utmost important to Mayo. The likes of McLoughlin and his work-rate that provide the brilliant playmaker Dillon enough space to pick out his inside forwards.

We were all impressed with how Mayo cushioned the blow of Andy Moran’s absence against Dublin but if Dillon is kept quiet, they lose their key code-breaker.

He will be at the forefront of McGuinness’s mind just as Colm McFadden will be for Horan. Head and shoulders above all his team-mates in the scoring charts, he is an obvious target.

In the likes of Karl Lacey and Frank McGlynn, Donegal have scoring options other than their forward line while Rory Kavanagh has been chipping in with his few.

With such forensic calculations being done on one another, don’t be surprised if it’s one of the unsung heroes.

Describing Michael Murphy as one of them might be unusual but neither he nor Paddy McBrearty have been finding the posts much from play, only 0-6 between them in the campaign so far.

It could be a day for either to take advantage of diverted eyes while Ryan Bradley has a chance to rediscover his excellent Ulster form which dropped against Kerry and Cork.

On that note, for Mayo the fortitude Cillian O’Connor demonstrated in kicking those three 45s against Dublin illustrated his character. He hasn’t hit the heights of his young footballer of the year season in 2011 but might prove a handful for someone like Neil McGee.

In preparing for Donegal, Cork staged training games against 17 men. Tomás Ó Sé said you just have to experience it and think on your feet. On an All-Ireland final stage, that will be difficult to do for a young Mayo side and they will have to prepare themselves for the likelihood that they will get nowhere near the 18 and 17 point totals they put up against Down and Dublin.

As well-oiled as each team is, they panicked in the closing stages of recent games — Donegal against Kerry, Mayo against the Dubs.

Goals will be at a premium and if Donegal edge three or four in front early in the second half, it will be paramount that Mayo don’t attempt to chase the game.

For all the expectation around Donegal, Horan’s Mayo replicated everything they have done these last two seasons — a provincial title, All-Ireland semi-final, and successful defence of said provincial title. But it’s the manner in which Donegal have gone about their journey that is so compelling. To lose now, having beaten Tyrone, Kerry and Cork, would be almost unforgivable.

Mayo have a great chance because they have the belief and structure to overcome most things. But Donegal look an insurmountable peak.

Verdict: Donegal