Thoughtcrime is permitted. Individualism, too. But cult of personality is instantly exiled. Not in this Dublin panel. Not inside this Dublin panel anyway.

They lost Rory O’Carroll to travel and living. Readjusted. They lost Jack McCaffrey to a humanitarian need to arm his medical studies with experience. Readjusted to that, too.

David Byrne and John Small are growing into impressive inter-county footballers. Cogs in the Dublin wheel that prove the cult of personality can never thrive. Dublin like Kilkenny.

Losing James McCarthy to injury seemed way too much to swallow. Three All-Star defenders robbed from an All-Ireland winning defence.

A solution was found in a player people in Dublin have known about since he was an under-14 competitor with Castleknock.

‘Seamless’

Donegal could barely contend as Ciarán Kilkenny touched the ball 52 times, moving in whatever direction space existed.

Plenty of individualism to ensure collective progression remained on course.

"I thought that was a controlled performance," said Jim Gavin, who politely sits among us in suited garb – as part of an Aer Lingus promotion to coincide with an All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday that some would have you believe is over before it can begin.

“We have got an adaptable squad. The player who slotted into that position, Ciarán, he played his part, did what’s expected for the team. Yeah, I thought it was seamless.”

It was more than that. It was dominant. It made the loss of McCarthy not seem so cruel.

Kilkenny maturing play, allied by a return to his fully conditioned state, makes the retirement of Alan Brogan seem seamless.

There was a moment late on when he gathered possession, for the 51st time, just inside his own half. The space was behind him so that’s where he galloped. The Hill duly noted Donegal jeers with glee.

“Ciarán has played under-21s full forward, hasn’t played in the fullback line yet, but has played in every other line. He is very flexible in that regard. He understands the game very well. He has great game intelligence. He knows the various roles needed to play corner forward or wing back.”

Or wherever.

That is how Dublin, despite those in exile, have not grown weaker in 2016. Seemingly not. Collective overruns individual play, so long associated with Dublin failure (before the blue wave).

“In any squad, in any sport, there is always that transition. There are always players leaving the squad, new players coming up, some take longer to mature with the senior squad but we are fortunate with the group we have...”

Gavin goes on to talk about “their culture.”

Every one of them must lead. All must influence the game. “On any given day you are not going to get a perfect performance. That’s just a non-achievable. We are just striving the whole time for a high level of excellence.”

Kerry will not be like Donegal. Gavin says this. Not as defensive.

’Every eventuality’

“Kerry do pose a different challenge. They keep a lot more players up the field.

“Look at the names they have – all outstanding individual players. And, collectively, we have seen in recent times, particularly 2013, what can happen if you give them the space that they can punish you.

“In recent games that we have had, there is literally a kick of the ball between the teams. If we give Kerry space, they are going to hurt Dublin.” What has Éamonn Fitzmaurice been hiding down there behind the closed gates of Fitzgerald stadium?

“They have shown various game plans during their national league campaign. We met them in the final and until they got their man [Aidan O’Mahony] sent off, in the 48th minute, there was only two points in that game.

“They are well able to push up high, well able to get their forward players behind the ball and set up a defensive line across the middle.

“They are unpredictable in that stage. What Kerry can bring, because they have such experienced and talented players, you can’t plan for every eventuality.

“Therefore we have based most of our preparation on our game plan. The way we want to play. As we have in most cases.

“That normally sees us get a performance. If we get a performance we will normally be there there abouts at the end of the game.”