So that's that. In hindsight was it ever going to be any different? Jim McGuinness’s second year after what they done last year - well sure an All-Ireland final was always on the cards.
And when the rules are changed to makes sure traditional football comes back, who is going to be their dancing partner but Kerry? It was so obvious you would wonder what we were talking about for so long!
Donegal and Kerry land into the final with as dominant a run-ins from the quarter-final as any teams in years. Against Monaghan and Meath, Donegal displayed their full array. Organised, zonal defence, patient methodical attack that compliments their ultra-fast counter-attacks perfectly and most emphatically, the coolest, most game-aware heads around.
In both matches for brief periods they were in difficulty, particular on the kickout, but they absorbed, adapted and moved on with minimal fuss.
Simple scores are their gospel. It’s one Jim Gavin’s Dublin would recognise well. Keep that scoreboard ticking. That exact philosophy had them walking away with the National League until they took their foot of the gas to avoid a final that wasn’t part of Jimmy’s plans.
The All-Ireland decider was very much in his plans. The foot will be to the floor now to land their third and give McGuinness’s second coming the ultimate fairytale ending.
As for Kerry, they blew Armagh away with the most awesome display of football for 15 minutes and all the questions coming into the semi-final was around whether they'd be able to reach that peak again, or had it been merely a freak Armagh collapse.
In the end, while they didn’t hit that sheer peak, in many ways their win over Tyrone was even more impressive. They were ruthless in the tackle and up front David Clifford was a man apart. Body language can be put on, they say fake it till you make it after all, but there is little doubt that the Fossa legend is in the form of his life.
The aggression and passion with which he is playing and with which he is engaging with the Kerry support is like something I’ve never seen before. It’s as if he has decided that he will drag his team to the title himself if that's what it takes.
But of course, it’s not completely a one-man show. They have many other key players in good form, notably the likes of Joe O’Connor, Paudie Clifford, Gavin White and Seanie O’Shea. Even the unsung Graham O’Sullivan’s role at wing half-forward is key but lost in the large, dark shadow cast from their shining star Clifford.
There will be plenty to chew on over the next two weeks. Unequivocally, the final pits the two top teams in the country against each other.
What is so brilliant is the degree of contrast in their styles.
Donegal have stuck their colours on the zonal defensive mass. Large numbers of Donegal shirts will be back inside the arc with or without any opposition players near them. They then try to move and cover the holes and gaps at the sides and by in large have done this well.
Meath were incapable of doing it. Monaghan had more success but, in the end, didn’t have the fire power to do the damage the might have and the staying power to stick with Donegal to the end. Kerry should have both.
Kerry’s attack, make no bones about it, is hung on David Clifford. Are there others to do damage? Of course there are. Ask Armagh. But still Clifford is the key.
At the weekend he was as close to unmarkable as I’ve seen any player for a generation. Pace, power, guile and as fine of close skills as you’ll get. Armagh’s decision to shut that avenue down above all else looked wrong when Seanie O’Shea turned on a masterclass. It didn’t look wrong after the Tyrone game. Can Donegal’s zonal defence achieve both?
Kickouts and midfield dominance will again garner much attention in the build-up. My first reckoning is that Donegal have a significant advantage here. Tyrone after all won 11 of Kerry’s kickouts. That’s a huge return, but they only got two points off them.
Tyrone have a tendency towards slower attacks. Donegal do too but they will ruthlessly go hard and fast when the opportunity presents. Winning opposition kickouts is one such moment for them. If they do the same damage as Tyrone did on the Kerry kickout (and I would suggest Donegal are stronger again in this area) then I would expect them to come away with much greater reward on the scoreboard.
No doubt, I’ll sit and rewatch a few games to refine my thinking on the above. I’ll listen to a few podcasts, read newspaper articles and chat to many football people over the coming weeks too.
By then I’m sure I’ll know who’s going to win. Might just stay quiet though. Much easier to appear very wise after the event. But here’s to two weeks of wasted energy.
Sure isn’t it great to have something to talk about?
