Ulster SFC final Donegal v Tyrone, Clones, 2.0 [Live, RTÉ2 BBC2]
This is the most eagerly awaited match of the provincial championships. Tyrone's continuing evolution and development of a highly effective and fast counterattacking (how incomprehensible that would have been to our forefathers) game has marked them out as potential challengers for the All-Ireland.
This weekend they come up against the side that has proved their nemesis in recent times and who also swooped for an All-Ireland in one of those years. As Tyrone have emphasised they never lost those matches by much but neither did Donegal’s grip relent.
Now the consensus appears to be that the two counties represent lines on a graph that have crossed even though the league – usually a reliable indicator of championship prospects – placed Donegal in the top four and their opponents in the second tier.
The biggest quibble with Tyrone’s status as favourites is that during this unbeaten season they have yet to meet top-flight opposition whereas Donegal have ploughed through a decent Fermanagh side and two epic battles with outgoing champions Monaghan.
The closer the match gets however and the more the conviction wavers that Tyrone have a decisive edge. Donegal have always exerted pressure on them and also outlasted them. Furthermore they have a more reliable dead ball operation and Neil McGee back from suspension. This will be a challenge.
There is also a keen rivalry – to put it at its most polite – between the counties, which strops the edge beyond simply Donegal’s grim determination to halt the rise of their opponents and Tyrone’s long-smouldering desire to reverse the fixture’s trend this decade.
Then there is the similarity of their games: disciplined, packed defence and lightning prosecution of turnovers. The evidence would appear to support the view that Tyrone are fresher with more of a spring in their step as well as top players in good form, most obviously Peter Harte whose free role was rewarded with 2-4 from six scoring attempts.
There remain reservations about the forwards after the goal chances wasted against Kerry in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final but the game they have to play is physically punishing and doesn’t assist clinical finishing or cool decision making. Anyway, limited attacking options didn’t stop Harte winning the All-Ireland in 2008 and the scoring landslide that buried Cavan in the replay would set anyone a daunting target.
Donegal were much the superior team in the semi-finals against Monaghan but made a meal out of exploiting that advantage. Better in the drawn match, Rory Gallagher’s team were also far more convincing than the one-point replay win might suggest.
That was positive for them in the semi-finals but does anyone imagine that they won't need to show a better conversion rate in the final. Michael Murphy has been a bit understated so far but he was hugely influential in last year's meeting between the teams in Ballybofey with his three impressive frees in the last 10 minutes creating the difference between the teams.
In play he was marked – if that's the word – by Justin McMahon whose constant attentions should mean that referee David Coldrick keeps a close eye on the duel if it again materialises both for some of the means employed as well as the occasionally combustible Donegal captain's reactions.
It's a common refrain at this stage that Donegal should get more out of Murphy as an attacking option but his role as orchestrator of the team as well as eye-opening vignettes like tracking Fermanagh's Ryan Jones all the way back to his own goal to get a hand in on a goal chance illustrate how deeply his influence runs.
McMahon was also a key operative in shutting down Cavan’s goal threat in the replay.
On the basis that Tyrone have shown greater energy throughout the field with runners erupting everywhere, they look equipped to take on the outstanding Frank McGlynn and Ryan McHugh in this respect. Can they strike early to get Donegal onto the back foot and can they out-last them?
The belief here is that they can.
Last meeting: This is the third final in a row between the counties with each having won one so far. Donegal are champions, having come out on top by 0-15 to 1-9 last year – their only victory in this fixture during five meetings over the last 20 years.
Odds: Tyrone 4/7, Donegal 15/8 and 15/2 the draw.
Injuries: Both teams have a full deck from which to choose.
Suspensions: None with Neil McGee back from a two-match ban.
Just the ticket: Stands €30/€25 (£25/£20). Terrace €18 (£15) and concessions for students and senior citizens, €18/£15 entry to stands.
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)
Verdict: Tyrone
