Who will lift Sam? BBC pundits have their say
This year's All-Ireland Senior Football final pits Munster winners Kerry against Ulster champions Donegal at Croke Park. Kerry are in a third final in four years and are looking to win the Sam Maguire for a 39th time.Donegal are back in the showpiece occasion for the first time since they were beaten by the Kingdom in 2014 and are aiming for their third All-Ireland win - and first since 2012.The game will be broadcast live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and ahead of the final we have gathered the thoughts of our star-studded line-up of pundits.2002 All-Ireland winner Oisin McConville, Philly McMahon, an eight-time All-Ireland winner with Dublin, Tyrone's three-time All-Ireland champion Owen Mulligan, three-time All-Star Conor McManus, Donegal legend Brendan Devenney and Mickey Harte, who lifted Sam three times as Tyrone boss, give their verdict on the big match.
Donegal 'a well-oiled machine'
Oisin McConville: "After a lot of football played this year, I think we have got to the stage where people thought we might end up. "Kerry were very impressive against Tyrone and Donegal blew Meath away. The two best teams in the country are in the final, that goes without saying. "There is so much to like about both teams and there are so many potential scorers for both teams. There is massive reliance on David Clifford in that Kerry full-forward line."Donegal have scores absolutely everywhere, they are a well-oiled machine, their bench looks really strong and they might just be able to pip this."
Philly McMahon: "It is going to come down to how each team can get after the offensive strategy of the other. "Donegal have players that can score from all angles from their running game and ball inside, whilst Kerry have Sean O'Shea as well as David and Paudie Clifford. "It will come down to which team is going to be strong defensively and who is going to win the shootout and for me, it is going to be Donegal."Brendan Devenney: "Some people have this defensive thing about the Donegal team but it's set up for attack. "Everybody is a ball player and that's where when teams set up the shield around the arc, if you break at pace you're in trouble - as you saw with Meath - because we will destroy you with pace. "But if you hold us up, we've got so many players that can drop it, and really Brendan McCole is the only player that stays."Everyone else is bombing forward when they can so that's the danger for Kerry. I think the amount of people that can open up a defence in Donegal and score is higher than Kerry's."Kerry have a couple of superstars in their team so there's a lot of that's going to be left on Clifford's shoulders but there's a wee man McCole for him."
Kerry 'over-reliant' on the Cliffords
Conor McManus: "A hugely tough one to call. Kerry were brilliant against Tyrone particularly in the second half, they put the game to bed and Donegal were very comfortable against Meath."The strength of Donegal's squad is the big thing coming into the final. They had 12 different scorers and that may just be the difference. "There is maybe an over-reliance on the two Cliffords and O'Shea, but Donegal are getting their scores from all over the field. "They have a lot of runners from deep and because of that I think you would have to edge it to Donegal maybe by a one-or two-point win."
Mickey Harte: "I think it is a final many people expected at the start of the year."You look at their semi-final performances, they will be very pleased on both counts. "The question is can Donegal collectively negate the full effect of David Clifford, if they manage to do that, I think they can deal with their other threats with the numbers that they have. "The big thing about Donegal is their counter attack is the best in the country, they come with numbers and quality, and they have so many different finishers. I will tip Donegal to come out on top."Owen Mulligan: "It all depends on Clifford. He scored half their scores against Tyrone and we couldn't control him. But I think Jim's got a plan and I think Donegal just have enough to beat Kerry."I think the bench is going to be very important. The way [Patrick] McBrearty carried himself [in the semi-final]. He was like a new pup coming on. He was very fresh, [Michael] Murphy was doing his thing and [Michael] Langan for me is one of the players of the year."I can't wait to see him and [Joe] O'Connor going at it but I fancy Donegal to win the All-Ireland."
Predictions
Oisin McConville: DonegalPhilly McMahon: DonegalBrendan Devenney: DonegalConor McManus: DonegalOwen Mulligan: DonegalMickey Harte: Donegal
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