14-07-2025
Maurice Brosnan: McCole's masterclass sets up a heavyweight showdown with Clifford
At the final whistle, Brendan McCole let it all go.
There was no longer a need for his unwavering focus. Arms up, head to the sky, rejoice right in front of the Hogan Stand. They are through. His reward is the ultimate test.
Jordan Morris came into this semi-final with 2-12 to his name. The Meath forward scorched Croke Park in the quarter-final with 1-6 against Galway from 11 shots. On Sunday, he fired at the posts five times for one point.
That raging fire met a cold unforgiving tide. The tide won out.
From the moment they lined out for the throw-in, Donegal having opted to play against the wind into the Hill, McCole made his way out of his full-back refuge and over to the foreign wing. This new era of Gaelic football has made it almost impossible for defenders to thrive. Almost.
The Ulster champions have a set structure that sees defenders switch and pass over freely. McCole exists outside of that. He is consistently given the task of tackling the opposition's biggest threat. He is consistently delivering.
Morris joined the hitlist along with Sam Mulroy, Ryan O'Donoghue, Conor Turbitt and Darragh Canavan. In this championship, McCole has bested every one of them.
'The first thing to say about Brendan is that he has climbed the ladder,' said Jim McGuinness afterwards as he reflected on a 20-point mauling.
They kept what was an immense attacking unit to 13 scores from 31 shots.
'For any young defender out there, he has climbed the ladder. I remember when he made his debut he got a very rough introduction to intercounty football.'
The boy who was born in New York and didn't play Gaelic football until he was nine years old and back in St Naul's endured a testing debut campaign in 2019.
The same ground. The same opposition.
McCole lasted 14 minutes in the Division 2 league final against Meath before Neil McGee replaced him.
He is now the spit of the current Donegal selector.
As McGuinness hails his proficiency, captain Patrick McBrearty sits by his side, nodding knowingly. The sort of gesture that comes with steady reminders during internal games.
'To answer your question, he is very conscientious,' said McGuinness. 'He works very hard at his game. He wants to know as much as he can about opposition forwards. He trains really well. He is focused in his own training and he wants to defend. That is the bottom line.
'He wants to defend. He wants to really, really defend. Jordan Morris is a brilliant player and a brilliant talent. A player that can do serious damage and play off the cuff, they are the hardest players to mark. No doubt.
I thought he did a brilliant, brilliant job today.'
It was evident with Meath's first sustained attack. Michael Murphy kicked a boomer for Donegal's first point, Donal Keogan won a short kickout. The Ulster champions were set by time the ball was carried into their half, Morris got his first touch outside the 45.
McCole stayed eyeballing him, even as attackers gained possession right behind his back. Morris' next touch was way out at the halfway line. Left foot solo, right foot, goose step and rapid break onto the left, McCole matching him stride for stride.
The ball was recycled back out, Eoghan Freyne tried to pick a pass inside and it bounced harmlessly over the endline.
Sharp cuts and side steps are effective because they leave defenders legless. They twist and compromise, ultimately turning their back. For any attacker with pace, that is an invitation.
McCole does not do that.
Midway through the first half he sized up his marker and showed him down the right. Morris has only scored once on that side in the championship.
As the number 13 jinked back onto his left to attempt a two, McCole drop-stepped, never losing sight of his target and maintaining pressure throughout. The shot was forced and dropped at the near post.
Pressure is the most defining component in the cauldron that is Gaelic football.
Fundamental skills look simple until that game-changing squeeze is applied. It makes a hurried handpass miss and a Mathew Costello goal chance slips away.
A short kick to Bryan Menton drops too short with the resulting collision ultimately forcing his withdrawal.
In the decider, Donegal will be the first team ever to play 11 championship games. 720 competitive minutes. McCole has played in 713 of them.
But he hasn't faced a weapon like the one he will face in two weeks' time. David Clifford is an animal of epic proportions.
THE FINAL TEST: Kerry's David Clifford celebrates scoring the first goal against Tyrone. Pic: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
The Kerry star has hit over 50 shots in this championship. McCole hasn't attempted one. Unstoppable force meets immovable object.
The introduction of the two-pointer has brought a new equation and scoring system into the sport. Now, players can complete a special kind of hat-trick. A one, a two, a three.
Outside of Kerry, three players have done this since the Sam Maguire series began with the group stages. Saturday was the third time Clifford has done it, having hit similar hat-tricks against Cork and Cavan.
Croke Park has proved to be a fitting stage for his repertoire to unfold.
That sweeping stride, speed of execution and force of strike will test the nerve of most defenders. Not this one.
Two sides of a heavyweight bout that will relish the clash.
The satisfaction that will come from this victory for either of them will be immeasurable. Donegal and McCole have come through a gruelling route.
Should they triumph, Kerry and Clifford will have overcome the neighbours twice, Armagh, Tyrone, Donegal and a stint on McCole island.
What a decider we have in store. Two awesome teams, a rejuvenated game and one glorious matchup. The Ali and Frazier of our times.
