Donegal have not been in a final since 2014 when their bid for a third title fell short against Kerry who have suffered more final heartache than joy since, losing finals in 2015, 2019 and 2023, but they did scale the mountain in 2022 to secure a 38th success.

Jack O’Connor looks poised to bow out as one of Gaelic football’s most decorated managers after masterminding an emphatic 10-point victory over Donegal at Croke Park yesterday. A comprehensive 1-26 to 0-19 win comes in a season when Kerry also won the National League and Munster championship,

Despite a lack of back-and-forth action as Kerry seized the lead just 11 seconds in and, aside from a brief moment when Donegal leveled the score, maintained it before ultimately securing a comfortable victory,