All-Ireland MC Final Down v Mayo: Down can further enhance the dominant reputation of Ulster football tomorrow as they seek their first minor title since raiding Croke Park in 1999. Mayo were also the opponents that day as Benny Coulter and company showcased their footballing brilliance. This current group have similar pedigree.

Down also arrive with a point to prove, having lost the provincial final, also at Croke Park, after some no-nonsense Armagh defending denied them a late, match-winning goal. Ryan Kelly was pulled down as he prepared to shoot but Kevin Duffin's subsequent penalty was saved.

The excellent Martin Clarke kicked the resulting 45 but they couldn't find another score to earn a replay.

They had knocked out the defending All-Ireland champions, Tyrone, who had 10 players returning, in May with a sensational goal from captain James Colgan in the fifth minute of injury time. A two-game battle with Cavan followed, which they only escaped by a single point the Tuesday before the Ulster final.

Galway and Offaly failed to live with their intensity in the All-Ireland series.

"One wonders how they lost the Ulster final as they were a better team than Armagh on the day," said Mayo manager Eugene Ivers, "a lot like us in the Connacht final against Galway, I suppose."

Mayo have been the blueprint for dark horses this season. They were unlucky in the provincial final but recovered to overcome Armagh and then Kerry. Neither county produced a vintage crop this year but they were more than capable challengers.

The Kerry match will be remembered for the red-hot favourites taking too long to find their stride and, as a result, paying the ultimate price.

Ivers believes the location of the semi-finals was a huge disservice to minor level in general as Down and Offaly were shunted out to Navan because the Tommy Murphy Cup final took the traditional slot in the fixture list.

"If we had not got on the undercard of the Kerry-Cork semi-final we would not have played in Croke Park before Sunday and that would have been a huge advantage to Down," noted Ivers.

"Why don't they want young guys in Croke Park? It is downgrading the football players we will be looking at for the next 10 years. Minor level should be the first chance players get to showcase their talent in Croke Park.

"Also, very few guys get another opportunity after an All-Ireland semi-final to return to Croke Park."

But back to the present. Down have ability throughout their team but the An Ríocht pairing Colgan and Clarke are the key figures. Ivers is aware that the methods used to overcome Kerry will not suffice.

"Yeah, Kerry were very direct while Down build very slowly and use Martin Clarke for a lot of their attacks, much like Galway used to deploy Michael Donnellan from deep."

Being aware of the threat is fine but doing something to counter it is more problematic.

Mayo do have proven forwards like Paraic O'Connor and Aiden Campbell to kick scores that will ensure they stay in touch with any team. Points also come from other avenues, most notably midfield and the half-back line, where Chris Barrett and Tom Cunniff must be tracked. Still, one gets the impression Kerry took their eye off the ball in the semi-final, maybe because they were preparing for the physical onslaught that awaited them after experiencing this intensity in last year's final against Tyrone.

Down also bring a physicality and streetwise attitude, along with a wealth of talent, particularly in Ciarán Brannigan, that Mayo will struggle to cope with.

Underestimating Mayo has already proved a grave error but Down's six-game run has built an inner resolve that should see them take the title.

Mayo v Down

Croke Park, Sunday, 1.30

On TV: RTÉ 2

Team line-ups

MAYO: S Nallen; P Healy, G Cafferkey, D Conway; C Barrett, T Cunniff, D Hughes; P Collins, P Hanley; A Campbell, D O'Connor, P O'Connor; R O'Boyle, D Kilcullen, G O'Boyle.

DOWN: M McAllister; G Magee, C Garvey, H Magee; G McCartan, E McConville, K Duffin; J Colgan, P Fitzpatrick; D Lavery, M Clarke, S Grant; C Brannigan, R Kelly, P McCumiskey.

Referee: M Deegan (Laois).

Paths to final

MAYO

Connacht semi-final v Roscommon 4-12 to 0-7

Connacht final v Galway 0-9 to 0-10

All-Ireland quarter-final v Armagh 0-10 to 1-6

All-Ireland semi-final v Kerry 1-12 to 0-14

DOWN

Ulster quarter-final v Tyrone: 2-10 to 0-15

Ulster semi-final v Cavan 1-12 to 0-15

Ulster semi-final replay v Cavan 0-13 to 1-9

Ulster final v Armagh 0-10 to 0-11

All-Ireland quarter-final v Galway 1-17 to 2-11

All-Ireland semi-final v Offaly 1-15 to 1-7