Six teams are left in pursuit now for the biggest prize in Irish sport, and Dublin and Donegal are no more or less certain of their chances than Armagh, Sligo, Kerry and Cork. All this makes for a mouth-watering conclusion to this year's All-Ireland football championship.

But like the other four teams still in there, Dublin and Donegal both have hopes now of going all the way. It's going to be the team that shows the most improvement from now on that gets there.

It's tricky, however, to predict who is the more capable of stepping up a gear in this evening's replay. Donegal will definitely have the greater momentum after coming from three points down in the last few minutes of the drawn game. Mickey Moran has also placed a lot of emphasis on mental preparation this year, and there's no doubting the influence that has had on his team.

Donegal have kept calm in tight situations. Ray Cosgrove's two goals the last day came at vital times for Dublin, yet Donegal clawed their way back each time with well-taken points.

There have been times, too, when Donegal have lost crucial players, like Mark Crossan and Barry Monaghan. The perception was that their bench wasn't as strong as other big teams but Damien Diver and Eamonn Doherty have done very well as replacements, especially Diver, who was exceptional the last day against Dublin.

Donegal also have a simple and effective game plan. Their half forwards drop back along with John Gildea and Paul McGonigle, and they use Adrian Sweeney and Brendan Devenney as highly effective twin strikers. Michael Hegarty is also left to play a sort of lone role, pulling the strings in the half-forward line. So the long ball into Sweeney and Devenney is a change from the short game played by Donegal in the past.

Yet under Tommy Lyons, Dublin have also been playing a more simple game plan, getting the ball into their inside forwards as quickly as possible. It's a tactic that has reaped a rich harvest so far, particularly with the super strikes from Cosgrove and Alan Brogan.

The art of goal scoring is perceived to be in decline in recent years. Cosgrove and Brogan have certainly bucked that trend. Cosgrove's placement of goals this season, low and out of the goalkeepers reach, have been calmness personified and I think Brogan's strike against Kildare was magical.

And I think Cosgrove has repaid a hundred fold the confidence shown in him by the management. He was only a bit-part player in the previous regime - and performed very much like that - but his current confidence and form illustrates again the importance of mental approach in sport. He may not be a tremendous ball winner but he's a tremendous finisher.

In looking at the areas where teams can improve, and tip the balance in their favour, Donegal need to shut out that goalscoring threat in the Dublin attack. Both Dublin goals the last day initially came from a mix-up in the Donegal defence and that's one thing they'll want to get right.

Around the middle they saw Jim McGuinness fade a little the last day and 70 minutes of intensity from him would be a huge boost to Donegal. Also a greater presence in the half-forward line from Brian Roper and Chris Toye would mean greater support for their up-front players, and with that a better attacking game from Donegal.

Dublin have gone for a lot more changes from the last day - indicating that midfield and the half forwards need more of a presence. Certainly Donegal held most of the sway at midfield the last day, and it was significant that the Dublin half-forward line was eventually replaced.

Dessie Farrell has obviously been performing very well in training, though Shane Ryan is a unlucky to miss out because his work-rate is always high. Darren Magee has done well any day he has come on and deserves the nod this time over Darren Homan.

Defensively there are still worries in Dublin and a lot of effort is needed to cut down the supply to Devenney and Sweeney. Whoever shows the greater will to lift their game and work best to their strengths will win.

First time out I thought Dublin would do that, but this time I fancy Donegal, especially if they can score a goal themselves and shut out the threat at the other end.

Dublin do have Tommy Lyons back on the sidelines and that's a huge boost to them, but they're asking themselves a few more questions now and in a tight game Donegal can take advantage of that.

In an interview with Ian O'Riordan