CHAMPIONSHIP TALKING POINTS: Donegal claim the dubious honour of 'best of the rest'

It sure wasn’t the most fruitful weekend for anyone looking for chinks in Dublin’s drive for five. Meath’s paltry points total in Croke Park followed on from a Munster final that again exposed Kerry’s deficiencies at the back, while Mayo’s joy in Newry was tempered by the understanding that they too continue to have issues at the heart of their defence.

Donegal’s efforts have been far more encouraging. They appear to have taken a few steps forward this term, after a Super 8 exit last time out, and that clearly has something to do with the addition to their coaching ticket of Stephen Rochford. The speed and the clinical nature of their counter-attacking yesterday was sublime at times and, while they conceded 2-11 in the second-half to Cavan, they were almost unbreachable during the first-half when things actually mattered.