Whoever beats Dublin in this year’s All-Ireland Championship will win that All-Ireland title.
That's the view of Donegal boss Declan Bonner as his side prepare to take on the Dubs in an Allianz Football League Division One semi-final in Kingspan Breffni on Saturday.
“This is the best team that has graced Gaelic football it is as simple as that, and they have the medals and All-Irelands to back that up," Bonner said of the Dubs.
“It's been a huge achievement and whoever beats them this season in Championship football will probably go on to win the All-Ireland.
“Dublin is Dublin, they have a huge squad of players. They might still be missing one or two but a lot of their key men are playing and playing well – Con O'Callaghan, Ciaran Kilkenny, (Niall) Scully, (Brian) Fenton, James McCarthy, Jonny Cooper, Michael Fitzsimons.
“They are household names, and they have won the All-Ireland for the last six years.”
A Donegal win means there will be no Division One final due to Bonner's men's date with Down in the Ulster SFC preliminary tie on June 26.
This has effectively made the meeting with Dublin a dead rubber and the Donegal manager admits it could be a chance for both teams to experiment ahead of the Championship.
“I don't think it will be as offensive. I think teams have probably experimented with that attacking option," he said.
“Will it be defensive? I don't think it will. The top teams will still be concentrating on getting their attacking element right.
“There's a balance to be got with everything and no more than any other team, we have got to get our balance right between our attack and defence and that's the job we have every night we sit in here and go out on the training ground.
“We're looking forward to it. It's a great match for us to get two weeks out from the Championship.”
Bonner added that he was very happy with the way Paddy McBrearty and the whole squad had taken up the baton in the enforced absence of Michael Murphy after their All-Ireland-winning captain was forced off with hamstring injury in the Division One North clash with Monaghan last month.
“Not just Patrick, but the whole group. Patrick has done extremely well. He kicked eight points in the last two games, but a lot of lads have stood up," said Bonner.
“It’s still a relatively young side. Caolan Ward is one of an older brigade and he’s only 25.
“These guys have been about a few years, the likes of Michael Langan, Eoghan Bán, Jamie (Brennan), Stephen McMenamin. these guys who have come through the ranks. Naturally we want to see Michael back, like any team would, just for his presence on the pitch alone. That’s there for everyone to see.
And Saturday’s date with the Dubs in Breffni means that’s places are up for grabs.
“There are places up for grabs. There is real competition for places there that hasn’t been there in the past," said the Donegal boss.
“We can change things depending on we are coming up against.
“At the minute, if we can get them all on the pitch we have a very strong squad and there is nothing guaranteed.
“You can see a real bite and a real energy every night, which is really encouraging”.
