Gallery - Donegal's route to the All-Ireland final

The Donegal team run out onto the pitch for their Ulster SFC preliminary round game against Cavan at Breffni Park

Donegal's Colm McFadden tries to get his kick away under pressure from Michael Lyng of Cavan

Cavan's Eugene Keating tackles Paddy McGrath

Donegal's Ryan Bradley (far left) celebrates after team-mate Rory Kavanagh scores their goal (on ground) in a 1-16 to 1-10 victory

The Donegal team stand for the national anthem before their Ulster quarter-final with Derry in Ballybofey

Donegal's Neil Gallagher gets his shot away despite the attentions of Joe Diver and Chrissy McKaigue of Derry

Eugene Scullion shrugs off the challenge of Donegal's Patrick McBrearty

Donegal's David Walsh (r) wrestles with Gerard O'Kane of Derry

Colm McFadden celebrates scoring his side's second goal as the Tír Chonaill men ran out 2-13 to 0-09 winners

Next us was Tyrone in the provincial semi-final where Donegal's Michael Murphy found himself under pressure from Stephen O'Neill

But there was nothing Aidan McCory (on ground) and Tyrone could do to prevent Donegal winning by 0-12 to 0-10 to reach successive Ulster finals

Donegal's Christy Toye is surrounded by Down duo Conor Laverty and Liam Doyle in the Ulster decider at Clones

Donegal's Frank McGlynn celebrates after he scores a goal against the Mourne County

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness is congratulated by fans after his side's comprehensive 2-18 to 0-13 success

Donegal captain Michael Murphy lifts the Anglo-Celt Cup

The Donegal squad celebrate their Ulster final win

Donegal's Colm McFadden celebrates scoring an early point in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Kerry at Croke Park

Kerry goalkeeper Brendan Kealy and Aidan O'Mahony look on as Michael Murphy of Donegal celebrates a goal

Kerry's Kieran Donaghy is closely sheparded by Eamon McGee

Donegal's Leo McLoone (l) collides with Shane Enright of Kerry

A young Donegal fan urges on his team as they squeezed past the Kingdom on a 1-12 to 1-10 scoreline

Chrisy Murray from Raphoe, Co Donegal, plays a tune before the All-Ireland semi-final clash with Cork

Colm O'Neill of Cork tangles with Neil McGee and Mark McHugh of Donegal

Donegal's Neil Gallagher takes a hard fall

Mark McHugh is pursued by Colm O'Neill

Colm McFadden attempts to maintain possession under severe pressure from Cork's Graham Canty

Karl Lacey celebrates after the Ulster champions ground out a 0-16 to 1-11 win

Leaving this Donegal fan and many others dreaming of claiming the the Sam Maguire Cup on 23 September