In some ways, Donegal football has always used Tyrone as the yardstick

Donegal players, from left, Neil McGee, Peadar Mogan and Brendan McCole tussle with Tyrone players, from left, Michael O'Neill, Richard Donnelly and Conor Meyler during the Allianz Football League Division 1 North Round 1 match between Tyrone and Donegal at Healy Park in Omagh, Tyrone. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Sure, there might have been some in Donegal hoping that Ronan McNamee’s red card from the Cavan win would have stood up, but the latest instalment of this local rivalry is all the better with the inclusion of a key ingredient.

A few years back, McNamee talked about life on edge of both counties prior to Tyrone beating Donegal in the 2016 Ulster final.