In the era of the ‘viral’ video the boundaries of sensitivity are being redrawn.

On December 4th last year Michael Christian and Mel Greig dialled the number of London’s King Edward VII hospital. What unfolded over the following days and weeks nobody could have predicted. The death of Jacintha Saldanah was a tragedy. The public inquest and scrutiny that followed was a travesty.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Being able to analyze circumstances after they have taken place. The public and the media use hindsight as a means of identifying flaws in an original plan. In this situation hindsight should have been used to confirm that what the DJ’s did was above board. We live in a society of accountability. Having somebody to blame allows us to fully digest the incidents that have taken place.

In Ireland numerous radio stations use prank phone calls as a means of entertaining listeners. These are well received and have been constants in radio shows for years now. How is this situation any different from the Australian example? A prank call is a prank call – viral for one may be millions around the world, for others it may be those in the local vicinity.

Less then a month after the Saldanah tragedy we saw the impact of the ‘viral era’ once again. A girl on a night out, slightly too much to drink and a stupid drunken rant – all on video. This has happened to everybody, not the nationwide notoriety, but the drunken rant part.

In the days after the video, comments warned of the potential effects this exposure may have on the girl in question. Awareness of possible consequences had increased, potentially because of the Saldanah case, and precautions were necessary. The public outcry was directed towards those who had filmed and uploaded the video. This was further example that the power roles are shifting – the vulnerable in these situations are the victims – regardless of whether they are in the wrong.

But where are the boundaries? Aengus MacGrianna’s mishap last week was uploaded to YouTube, tweeted by thousands, aired on Jimmy Kimmell. What makes this any different? Nobody stressed caution in this situation. It was all just a bit of a joke. If he is a public figure does that mean he is immune to embarrassment and sensitivity? Just like the nurse and the KPMG girl, MacGríonna made a mistake which was seized upon and documented to a large audience. Why can we focus on his misfortune, while tip-toeing around that of others?

Foresight is a method of prediction and when it fails to account for certain factors the results can be tragic. There is a risk that over emphasis on sensitivity could result in dehumanization. We now see the non-reporting of light hearted events because of potential consequences. We may be entering the era without embarrassing stories and funny videos because of the threat of reprecussions. That is not a great outlook– but it seems we don’t have a choice.

After an interesting 2012 hindsight can be replaced with foresight as we look forward to what 2013 has in store for us.

Sport always manages to accommodate the ridiculous, this year will be no different.

Here are some predictions of what may lie in store over the next 12 months.

Brian O’Driscoll

Irelands greatest ever player is in the Twilight of his career. O’Drsicoll will be 34 later this month and there is only so much his body can take after years of sacrifice for the cause. Despite being the most decorated player in Irish history the one thing that has alluded him is a Lions tour series win.

Jeremy Guscotts last minute drop goal in South Africa in 1997 was the last time the Lions had a series victory.I predict that this summer O’Driscoll will cap off his career in style by leading the Lions to a 2-1 series win down-under. The final chapter of a triumphant story.

Ulster

In a season of disappointment for Irish provinces Ulster will break the mould with a Heineken Cup/Rabo Pro 12 double. The season will culminate with a dramatic victory over French giants Clermont Auvernge in the Aviva.

Their last European Cup victory came in the old model of the same stadium. Fourteen years on in the shadow of the new architecture Mark Anscombe’s men will allow history repeat itself.

Provincial form earns Lions call ups for Tommy Bowe, Rory Best, Stephen Ferris and surprise package Craig Gilroy.

On a side note Mike McCarthy will become the first Connacht player in thirty years to be part of a Lions touring party. After the tour McCarthy will join Leinster – the latter fact is already confirmed.

High Profile Soccer Job Losses

Arsene Wenger, Giovanni Trapattoni and Rafa Benitez won’t last the calendar year in their current jobs.

Abramovich will continue going through managers at a similar pace to Henry the 8th going through women. Benitez will make way for a soon-to-be available, more glamorous, well rested, quite Spanish manager.

It will be the match made in heaven as Abramovich will get the attractive football he craves. However Guardiola will be tested as the tools available to him are not of the same quality as those at his disposal in Catalonia.

Wenger will step down using the phrase “I have brought this team as far as I could”. Piers Morgan will rejoice on Twitter but his delight will turn to sorrow when he realises that there are no adequate replacements.

The money men Gazidis and Usmanov will continue their policy of replacing icons with lesser known under-performing individuals by appointing a Neil Warnockesque journeyman  - all progress will be set back twenty years.

After a humbling qualifying campaign the FAI will reluctantly relieve Giovanni Trapattoni of his duties. Joe Kinnear and Roy Keane will be touted as possible replacements.

Donegal will fall

In the space of the last 12 months Donegal evolved from an uber defensive over achieving team to the most irresistible team in GAA. By perfecting the art of the counter attack they made the begrudgers eat their words.

Donegal will enter 2013 with an air of invincibility. However its very hard to go back to back in gaelic football and this year will be no different.

Under new manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice and inspired by the spirit of the late great Paidí Ó Sé Kerry will beat Donegal to make the All Ireland final. There they will meet Jim Gavins young Dubs.

They say you can never predict what will happen in a Dublin vs Kerry game and this will be no different. The game will go to a replay – who wins then? You decide.

Superbowl

New Orleans February 3rd. Its known as the greatest show on earth – this year its better than that. New England’s systematic playoff destructions have led them here. They face the fairytale story, the rank outsiders the Seattle Seahawks.

In the highest scoring Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski kicks an overtime field goal to see the East coast franchise avenge last years Superbowl disappointment. With 70+ points scored it is the highest scoring Superbowl since 1995.

A few final footnotes

Its hard to synopsise a whole year into one article. There are many other eventualities I am envisioning but not enough time to share the wisdom.

In brief I think 2013 could be a big year for boxing – keep a special eye out for the meteoric rise of Liverpool heavyweight David Price, Barry McGuigans brain child Carl Frampton and bantamweight Kal Yafal. Danny Garcia and Juan Marquez are two international fighters who could win big in the coming year.

I see 2013 as being the year we finally have another British major golf winner. The heart says Ian Poulter but the head says Donald or Rose.

No amount of analysis or discussion can bring us any closer to knowing how events will unfold in 2013. But sports lack of logic and its unpredictable nature have always been its most endearing qualities.

Before I launch into my stream of consciousness I must first offer a disclaimer. I have a terrible betting record – not through poor choices but through bad luck. Teams I place my faith in have often fallen foul to the most unluckiest of circumstances. Top players getting injured, stars suddenly losing their talent SpaceJam style etc etc. This weeks choices have been approved by my shrewd backroom team of advisors and analysts and as things stand they seem like a good way to make some money for the Christmas period.

Banker

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings : Total Points over 39.0 (10/11)
The total points spread is very low probably due to the fact that both teams have very good defences. However Chicago Bears were beaten last week at home by the Seattle Seahawks and now have a major point to prove. A win would all but guarantee them a playoff place.
The Vikings are 6-6 and still in with a reasonable shot at making the NFC playoffs. Playing at home and with the unstoppable Adrian Peterson at running back they are sure to put some scores on the board. If you do anything this weekend put your mortgage on over 39 points in this game!

Double time

Indianapolis Colts -5 vs Tennesse Titans : 10/11
Atalanta Falcons -3 @ Carolina Panthers : 4/5

It’s always dodgy betting on handicaps because teams just want to win – they don’t care by how much. The 11-1 Falcons are going to the 3-9 Carolina Panthers. The Panthers have lost more games by only one score than any other NFL team this season. However the Falcons are desperate to secure the first seed in the NFC and with it home field advantage all through the playoffs. Expect a shootout between Matt Ryan and Cam Newton…. And expect Matt Ryan to come out on top – Falcons by more than 3 … just about!

The Indianapolis Colts are on the crest of a wave. At 8-4 Andrew Luck has won more games than any QB picked first in the draft. Last week they came late to steal a win in Detroit. There is emotion behind this Colts team – there head-coach Chuck Pagano finished his last round of chemotherapy this week. There slogan ChuckStrong has followed them throughout the last few months and it seems that it is inspiring the team to get results. At home against the sometimes hot, but most often very cold Titans the Colts should cover the spread.

Hail Mary Treble

Miami Dolphins (+10) @ San Fran 49ers : 10/11

Jacksonville Jaguars to beat the New York Jets : 59/50

Arizona Cardinals (+10) @ Seattle Seahawks : 10/11

This is a bet for all the dreamers out there. Some days it comes off – most days it doesn’t. Since their diabolical stint on HBO Pre-season show Hard Knocks the Miami Dolphins have got their act together somewhat. At 5-7 they can often prove a hard team to beat. Going to San Francisco will not be easy, but I expect the Dolphins to put up a fight and certainly expect them to get inside the ten point spread.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are a team searching for an identity. The New York Jets are a team stuck in a horrible rut. Don’t let the Jets 7-6 win last week disguise the fact that they are awful. Under replacement QB Chad Henne the Jaguars offence has started to function somewhat. Receivers Justin Blackmon and Cecil Shorts have improved over the last few weeks. With Mark Sanchez again favoured as Jets QB it is hard to see them doing too much scoring. The Jags to shade this one in a dour affair.

After starting the season 3-0 Arizona have collapsed to 4-8. John Skelton, Kevin Kolb and Ryan Lindley have all tried and failed to light up the QB position. Their defence is their strong point and for that reason I can see them keeping themselves inside the spread versus the Seahawks.

So off to the bookies with you all now – I will be hiding away somewhere on Monday morning – please direct all abuse elsewhere!

All odds are taken from the Paddy Power website (www.paddypower.com)

With December fast approaching sports fans may be getting a little worried. At the time we need them most, many of our sporting heroes dessert us. The festive season brings with it the off season in many sports and a well deserved break for the top competitors. If Golf, GAA and Tennis is what you are in to then the next month or so is going to be tough.

However every cloud and all that…… On closer inspection December is one of the most action packed months of sport in the calendar year. So for those Grinches out there who hate Santa for taking their beloved sport away from them, here are six reasons to keep the head up and get onto that couch.

Soccer

With internationals and the Airtricity League wrapped away for another season we are left with only one alternative. What happens in the first three months of the premiership is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Teams like Hull and Swansea have been shoe-ins for Champions League spots come late Autumn before fading into mediocrity later in the season, The Christmas period is ‘moving season’ for teams with real ambition. Teams will play 8 games in the month. So if you have the shopping done and the Turkey caught why not sit down and enjoy games such as Man City vs Man Utd, Everton vs Chelsea and Arsenal vs Newcastle. While other countries enjoy their winter break, Premier League footballers are working overtime to keep the couch dwellers of Western Europe happy – thanks guys it’s really appreciated.

NFL

Did you know that this December is the first month in God knows how long that there are 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays? Good news for NFL fans so. While other sports stars are in eating pudding and telling bad jokes NFL players are out there making plays. With playoff season starting early January , December sees the last of the regular season games. And each week excitement builds as teams jostle for positions in their division and the wildcard set up. Games to look out for during the run in include 49ers vs Seahawks on Dec 23rd, Colts vs Texans and Falcons vs Buccaneers Dec 30th.There is also a Rookie Show on Sky Sports on December 9th to teach all you people who need a new outlet during the winter months.

Rugby

With the international season now but a distant memory December is time for the club players to slog it out. The return of the Heineken Cup is good news for Irish fans as it gives us something that we are superior at. Leinster, similar to a playground bully, return to strike fear into any European teams cheeky enough to try and challenge them. Their quest for three in a row continues against arguably their biggest threat Clermont Auvergne. The Heineken Cup in December sees each team playing home and away against the same opposition over consecutive weekends – reason enough for a full two days in charge of the remote. Post Christmas Rabo Pro 12 games see the Irish provinces battle it out – always good to watch while digesting the last of the turkey.

Darts

Everybody is a darts fan around Christmas. The PDC World Championship kicks off on December 15th and continues all the way through to the New Year. Being a social sport darts is the perfect way to incorporate sport into your hectic Christmas partying schedule. Come late December everybody is a darts expert. Phil the Power Taylor who like Santa Clause delivers in late December (yes I went there) is reason enough to sit down and take it all in. Shouts of 180 are by now background theme tunes to Christmas parties in households across Ireland and beyond. On a sad note this will be the first World Championship since the passing of the legendary commentator Sid Waddell RIP.

Horse Racing

Leopardstown is to Christmas as ….. Santa is to Christmas? Well what I am trying to say is that the Leopardstown Festival starts on Stephens Day and is a joy to behold. Frozen horses and steely jockeys compete in four days of top class racing. The event is social as much as sporting – perfectly timed for those who have received monetary gifts only to gamble it all away on bogus tips. RTÉ coverage of the event means that even those of us deciding to give our couches the necessary attention this festive period won’t miss the action.

So sports fans , keep the head up, put the feet up and enjoy the warmth of the coldest month of the year in the confines of your own couch. As Fulham’s finest Michael Jackson once said “The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work”

With our soccer and rugby national teams in Ireland it is often the case that while one is struggling the other is lifting the spirits of the nation. Unfortunately this has not been the case in 2012.

Irelands overwhelming victory over Argentina last weekend signalled a positive end to a lacklustre season. During this period they won only 4 of the 11 games they played. Aside from last Saturday the other wins were against weaker nations Scotland, Italy and Fiji.

A year that promised so much for our soccer side ended in disappointment with many fans disillusioned about the direction of the current set up. Similar to their rugby counterparts the soccer side won only four of their twelve games in 2012. These victories came against Bosnia, Kazakhstan, Faroe Islands and Oman – none of whom can claim to be among the elite sides.

The summer months brought little joy for either codes, with both sides being whitewashed on foreign soil. The soccer team were humiliated in Poland, while the rugby team were overpowered by the All Blacks. The game against Spain and the final test against New Zealand were the two occasions where Ireland came up against the best in the world and were simply outclassed. It was a summer of realism – acknowledgement that we were still some way away from being able to compete at the highest level.

Both sides have been managed by notoriously conservative coaches who have a vast history of success in their respective sports. Both prefer to stick with their tried and trusted. However come the Autumn months neither Declan Kidney nor Giovanni Trapattoni had much choice.

Injuries forced Kidneys hand somewhat. The November Series saw a fresh new Ireland line up. Young players Simon Zebo, Craig Gilroy and Paddy Jackson made their mark on the international set up. Elder statesmen who had not had much of a chance at international level to date also used this time to impress the coach – Mike McCarthy, Donnacha Ryan and Chris Henry in particular.

Trapattoni’s defied himself by reverting from his much maligned selection policy to give some younger faces a chance. Robbie Brady, James McCarthy and Ciaran Clark were among the youngsters to impress the Italian. Wes Hoolahan, who like Mike McCarthy is in his 30′s was also finally given an opportunity to add to his one cap.

Both teams have been lucky to be backboned by a golden generation for the past ten years. Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Richard Dunne and Shay Given have all contributed so much to the development of Irish football. Not everything can last forever though – and with Given and Duff stepping aside and Keane and Dunne injured we began to see what the next generation may look like.

The rugby team of the past ten years has given us successes that we could have only dreamed off pre Millennium, Grand Slams, Triple Crowns, European Cups, big world cup victories. But the curtain is coming down on this particular group. Injuries to Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell – coupled with Ronan O’Gara being out of favour – has allowed for new faces to take part in their audition for a place in the team as they prepare for life after the golden generation.

The final whistle in the Aviva last Saturday signalled the end to a year best forgotten by Irish supporters. As a full post-mortem takes place over the winter months there is cause for optimism. The two coaches have used the Autumn months to lay a new template for long term success. The first tests for the new generation begin in Cardiff and Stockholm early next year – if things go well it won’t be long until 2012 is forgotten.

A sign just outside the Aviva last night read ‘CAUTION – BUILDING IN PROGRESS’. As the evening wore on I began to think this may have been planted by the FAI. A warning that inside their awkward dome vital maintenance was about to take place. What we were witnessing wasn’t pretty but it was certainly necessary.

365 days on from the victory procession against the footballing superpower of Estonia we were all acclimatizing to the harsh reality that a year really is a long time in football.

That fateful night last November the crowds cheered at the sight of the Irish squad and management conducting a lap of honour after securing qualification to the European Championships. The loudest cheer last night was for a similar fete. Mr. Tayto trotted the circumference of the pitch at half time, dancing and waving to Irish supporters. It is a testament to the regression of Irish football over the past twelve months that this was one of the most interesting aspects of the evening.

Unlike last November, last nights sea of green was that of empty seats. The quoted attendance of 20.070 was exaggerated beyond belief. Walking to the stadium was similar to the Sunday morning stroll to mass in a rural town crippled by emigration – it was a ghost town.

Last months public outcry for the execution of Traps managerial duties was in the end unsuccessful. However it seems that it may have struck a chord with the Italian. Suddenly he realized that he is no longer untouchable. The structure he had created was rapidly collapsing around him. Instead of neglecting this collapse he began to address it. Robbie Brady, Seamus Coleman, Marc Wilson, James McCarthy, Wes Hoolahan and Ciaran Clark were all drafted in to assist with the renovations. These are natural players. Players who seem enthused by the idea of being on a football pitch. Players made of the right stuff

Often people preach about the separation between performance and result in a football match. For years I have stood bemused at hearing it. How is one possible without the other? Nearing the end of the game I began to comprehend what this means. Unlike many times over the last twelve months, Ireland performed last night. They dominated possession stats, corners, shots on goal. They won the game in every single aspect bar the one that counts.

But when you are building sometimes progression must come in phases. If this new possession game is going to act as the foundation for the revolution that is to follow then it is a good place to start.

Since the Germany defeat foundations have been created and construction is well under way. The old phrase says ‘Build it and they’ll come’ – hopefully Trap is on his way to creating a monument Ireland can be proud of again.

Manchester United have announced that an Alex Ferguson statue will be unveiled outside Old Trafford later this month. That leads me to my question – why has Ireland so little history of sporting statues?

Britain and the United States are examples of places where bronze sculptures are used to immortalise the achievements of their sporting greats. Statues, although only small monuments, can play a huge role in the identity of an area, club or team.

In the English Premier League almost all teams have a monument outside their stadium of a club hero – Bill Shankly at Liverpool, Thierry Henry and Tony Adams at Arsenal, Dixie Dean at Everton. These provide a focal point for fans visiting the stadium, a place for photographs, a meeting point, something to be proud of. A clubs history is as important as their future, and a statue is a symbol of embracing this history. British national stadiums Wembley and Twickenham have monuments of sporting greats for all foreign visitors to see.

In the U.S sport is a way of life, and when it comes to sporting statues nowhere does it better – Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Rocky, Payne Stewart, Pat Tillman to name but a few. The difference with the U.S is that they like a statue to tell a story. Many of their famous sporting statues are motion images of defining sporting moments.Take Doug Flutie for example, Boston College QB, who threw the most famous Hail Mary of all time to win the National Championship in 1983. His statue outside of Alumni Stadium is him as he winds up to throw the pass. With statues motion shots add more realism to the subject.

Ireland has very little tradition of sporting statues at a local or national scale. Our history as the underdog deserves recognition. Recently Mick O’Dwyer and Nicky Rackard were immortalised in statues in their local areas – however these are the exceptions to the rule.

Each and every GAA, rugby and soccer club around the country has their own story to tell. While it may not be feasible to tell it at a local level – statues at national stadiums could encapsulate what it means to be part of the sport.

In 2011 the GAA unveiled a 9ft statue of Michael Cusack outside Croke Park. While I agree Cusack deserves recognition for his part in the founding of the Association I think it would have been better to use this opportunity to remember former players, say for example Christy Ring and Jack Ó Sé. Cusack has also had a stand named in his honour which is the highest possible recognition.

The Aviva as a new stadium is desperately seeking an identity. Historical relevance is needed to help break from its commercial surroundings. The old Lansdowne Road was steeped in history – a grand slam, triple crowns, battles against the English, famous soccer qualifiers. The new stadium should embrace some of this history to create an identity for rugby and soccer going forward. The iconic picture of Mick Galwey embracing Ronan O’Gara and Peter Stringer before their international debut would be a great statue and one which would symbolise the emotion felt in Irish sport.

its that time of year again, that time when the GAA and the GPA sit down and decide the players that have entertained and impressed us the most over the last 12 months. Well, 12 months is an exaggeration – the All Stars as we know them really only account for August onwards. They are an elitist format which pay little attention to those outside of the semi final participants.

Among the 45 nominees this year only 10 are from outside the counties that contested the semi final. Once this 45 is narrowed to 15 it is likely that all but one of the All Stars will be from the final four counties. The GAA love to talk about promoting their games among the so called weaker counties yet when the opportunity arises to acknowledge the stars of these counties it is not taken.

Clare reached an Munster Final this year, Tipperary made great strides through the qualifiers, Limerick almost toppled Kildare, Sligo beat Galway, Leitrim won a qualifier for the first time – according to the All Star nominations none of these achievements merit a mention. Longford, Laois, Meath, Wexford and Down all progressed through the championship – most of these wont get recognition when the team is announced.

So I’ve decided on the ‘Alternative All Stars’ – where each county can have only ONE representative. Therefore 15 counties will be represented in my team. Below is my team from the last 12 months. This selection is based on the quality of performance rather than the quantity of performances.

1.  Eoin Culliton (Laois)

2. Donal Keoghan (Meath)

3. Paddy Codd (Tipperary)

4. Marc O’Se (Kerry)

5. Lee Keegan (Mayo)

6. Karl Lacey (Donegal)

7. Emmet Bolton (Kildare)

8. Gary Brennan (Clare)

9. Aidan Walsh (Cork)

10. Paul Flynn (Dublin)

11. Emlyn Mulligan (Leitrim)

12. Ben Brosnan (Wexford)

13. Jamie Clarke (Armagh)

14. Adrian Marren (Sligo)

15. Sean McCormack (Longford)

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein

GIovanni Trapattoni has been in the eye of the storm over the past seven days. The Italian has been credited with responsibility for Irelands humiliating 6-1 defeat at the hands of the Germans. Outside of the players and the FAI very few voices have come out in support of Trap. Since Friday the nation has been unanimous in calling for his head.

I was as disheartened as any last Friday evening. But something occurred to me on Tuesday during the Faroe Islands game. Amid all the rumours of his departure Trap seemed relaxed, it seemed a huge weight had been taken off his shoulders. Maybe he realised we had hit rock bottom last Friday and things could only move upwards from here. He seemed like a man who was finally ready to accept that he had gotten it wrong and now he was ready to change.

I enjoyed the Faroe Islands game. Despite the poor quality of opposition it was the first time I was riveted by an Irish performance in almost a year. The selection seemed to suggest that Trap was beginning to admit to his own mistakes and common sense was starting to prevail. The performances of Seamus Coleman, Marc Wilson, James McCarthy and Robbie Brady were a breath of fresh air. There was a sense that the shackles were off.

For the past three years our national team has been run with systematic precision. There were certain players who were necessary to complement the system. You could name the team for games months in advance – Given, O’Shea, Dunne, St. Ledger, Ward, McGeady, Andrews, Whelan, Duff, Keane, Doyle. But there was another pool of Irish players making a name for themselves in England – exciting young men well able to compete at the top level. These are the men that shone on Tuesday. But they are only the beginning of the revolution – if Trap is to fully accept his mistakes and begin a new era of progression he must treat the likes of Wes Hoolahan, Ciaran Clark, James McClean and Shane Long with the respect that their footballing ability deserves.

The FAI’s decision last night to keep Trap was a good one in my opinion. Firstly I don’t agree that there is a replacement of adequate quality available. The names of Redknapp, Benitez and Keane have been mentioned but common sense would speculate that these would have little interest in the job.

If we stop looking back in anger and start looking forward people will realise that the fate of this football team lies in 90 minutes in Stockholm in March. This is the most important game of the Trap era to date – win it and he will again be a national hero , lose it and all faith and hope will be lost.

But right now we still have a chance, as the famous American theologian Tyron Edwards once put it ”He that never changes his opinions, never corrects his mistakes, will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today.”

Normally key battles focus  on two players who will be coming up directly against each other for the seventy minutes. Due to Donegals style of play, and positional unpredictability we can only guess which players will be matching up against one another. So here I will work using assumptions and how the game may pan out. Using these assumptions I believe the 3 key battles on Sunday will be as follows……..

Ger Cafferkey vs Colm McFadden

McFadden is one of the few Donegal players who stays in the same position for the 70minutes. He has been a constant threat in the inside forward line all summer and is an obvious front runner for the Footballer of the Year award. His 3-28 scoring total for this summers championship is a credit to the man who has often been left isolated inside as Murphy and McBrearty were sacrificed to deeper roles for the sake of the team. Deceptively good in the air, McFadden will prove a handful under the high ball.

Cafferkey has proven himself as a reliable man marker, most recently coming out on top in a battle with Dublins Bernard Brogan in the semi-final. If he can keep McFadden quiet from open play it eradicates Donegals most potent scoring threat and puts extra pressure on the other Donegal forwards to score.

Aidan O’Shea and Barry Moran vs Rory Kavanagh and Neil Gallagher

Each final is defined by specific battles. Last years big question was how Dublins defence would handle the Kerry forward line? In 2010 people questioned how Cork would handle the in-form Martin Clarke. This years ‘big battle’ is taking place in the middle of the field.

Primary possession is crucial – gaining the upper hand from kick-outs will be a big factor in who is victorious come Sunday evening. The Donegal midfield of Kavanagh and Gallagher have been imperious throughout the season, culminating in a colossal semi final performance which saw the duo dominate a much hyped Cork midfield pairing of Aidan Walsh and Alan O’Connor. Gallagher highlighted his high fielding ability against the Rebels with a Man of the Match display. While Kavanagh complements his style with a hard working graft, also popping up for some important scores.

O’Shea and Moran are a similar style to their counterparts as the latter is the prime target from kick-outs and the main gatherer of primary possession, while the former gets through mountains of work as well as feeding quick ball into his forwards. Against Dublin O’Shea was immense in his tackling and turnovers, and was at the root of many of Mayo’s scoring attacks. If both sets of midfielders can repeat their semi-final performances we are certainly in for an intriguing battle in the engine room.

Alan Dillon vs Mark McHugh

Two who wont be coming directly up against one another on Sunday are Mark McHugh and Alan Dillon. At different points during the game they will blow by one another – the roles they have been assigned are exactly the same.  Both are playmakers for their respective counties and the influence they exert on the game will go a long way to deciding the final outcome. Dillons three points in the semi final were only a small part of what was an excellent performance. He can drop deep and play quick ball into the inside line, and he also possesses the ability to create and finish his own scores.

McHugh has been a hot topic over the past few months after delivering some monumental displays pulling the strings for the men from the North West. He lines out at wing forward but will spend a large majority of the game in his own half back line, breaking up play before starting counter attacks. His roaming role means it is very difficult for opposition defenders to keep tabs on him.  Allowing him space is a mistake which both Kerry and Cork made, as he uses this freedom to conduct everything that Donegal do from their halfback line forward. He may not score as much as Dillon but he can be every bit as influential , and if given any room to operate on Sunday he may prove to be the difference between the two sides.

One thing is for sure, come Sunday at 3.30 we will see two perfectly mastered strategies come up against one another. Donegal have developed their ultra defensive game into a hugely successful counter attacking machine. Mayo’s free flowing attacking style has been a breath of fresh air. As the old saying goes ‘Somethings gotta give’