Donegal's attention to detail could prove vital

FOOTBALL ANALYST:It's the little things about Donegal that have impressed me so much and that can see them home tomorrow

HAVING WATCHED both teams very closely this year, I feel Donegal are that bit further ahead in their development but it is never simply a case of the best team wins on All-Ireland final Sunday.

The presumption that both Mayo and Donegal will perform to the standard that got them to here is flawed. Really, it comes down to which team best handles the enormity of the occasion.

The hype surrounding this game, while not important, can break a player’s focus. The respective managements will have done everything to ensure the sideshows don’t become relevant.

It helps to have men like James Horan and Jim McGuinness in charge. Both shrewd football men, they will have every potential situation planned in minute detail.

In recent years Sam Maguire would be already doing the rounds of Donegal after victories over Tyrone, Kerry and Cork. Their confidence must have soared with each victory.

Same does go for Mayo, in fairness, due to the manner in which they dismantled Dublin in those first 45 minutes of the All-Ireland semi-final.

We must also consider how defensively-minded both counties are. Donegal appear to have a greater understanding of their defensive patterns. Every player is familiar with his role, making it very difficult to break them down.

A goal, at any stage, would be a surprise. I’m expecting a low-scoring game.

Mayo are a little different, but equally disciplined. Aidan O’Shea has played in a more defensive role while Alan Dillon and Kevin McLoughlin can be seen funnelling back as well.

The aforementioned three are probably the most skilful in a group of natural footballers. That could be key for Mayo. If they limit the number of hand-passing and focus on kick passing – against Dublin, Dillon put some fine ball into the corners where Enda Varley and Michael Conway either raised white flags or drew fouls.

The loss of Andy Moran actually galvanised the Mayo forwards. That is the difference between this and previous Mayo teams to make recent All-Ireland finals; there is no go-to man so everyone must deliver. There is no established powerhouse like Liam McHale or flamboyant play-maker like Ciarán McDonald.

However, if they don’t land a similar amount of long-range points as the last day, they will struggle to beat Donegal. They must have a similar period of dominance. But no team has done that to a Jim McGuinness side. No team has taken a significant lead.

Donegal do have a glaring flaw. In all three big games this year against Tyrone, Kerry and Cork they struggled to close it out. They got into a winning position and just held on for dear life.

In saying that, Mayo collapsed for 15 to 20 minutes against Dublin.

A quick start seems vital for Mayo. If they get a four or five-point lead I think the Donegal game plan will immediately change. The game will open up.

I’d expect Horan to move Aidan O’Shea into full forward late on. His brother Séamus or Jason Gibbons can come in alongside Barry Moran in midfield but they lack a target man like Aidan close to goal. And they will need that.

Also, their will be huge onus on their forwards to track the breakout Donegal raids. Karl Lacey is crucial to all of this but Frank McGlynn likes to gallop up when the chance arises. They must be followed.

Mark McHugh is such a clever footballer that it is very difficult to mark him. He features mainly in defence and then gets up in support of a counter-attack. Again, he must be tracked.

It’s the little things about Donegal that have impressed me so much. Take the intensity of their warm-up. Within moments of arriving on the field they are up to match pace. In contrast, Cork’s regular warm-up before the semi-final told me which team were more up for the game.

That’s why my gut feeling tells me Donegal will do it. That’s on the presumption that Michael Murphy plays in the final third of the field, up alongside Colm McFadden with Patrick McBrearty feeding off them.

That’s an irresistible strike force, even against Ger Cafferkey and Keith Higgins, but it must be employed correctly.

McFadden’s scoring return has been fantastic this year and that should see them home.

Michael Murphy must also remove the occasional glitch from his free-taking. Same goes for Cillian O’Connor for Mayo.

Frees will probably win this game. I expect that sort of 70 minutes.