Jack O'Connor's column:Former Kerry manager Jack O'Connorlooks at the tactical and psychological implications of last Sunday's league final

There's been a fair number of stories over the past few years about Donegal players bonding over the black stuff. They will have discovered something on Sunday though. Winning a big match in Croke Park is the best way of all to bond. The celebrations after the game showed how much it meant to them.

For Mayo now the season is more than anything a test of mental fortitude. Another big final lost and they have to overcome the grief of defeat and take the positives out of the game.

They showed great heart in hanging in there, although Donegal were the better team. They have to remember too that Donegal were at full strength; and with Ronan McGarrity, Trevor Mortimer, David Brady and Ciarán McDonald, Mayo would be a significantly better side.

If McDonald comes back and is right I would play him inside at full forward. He has the strength to win ball in there and Mayo need that.

Andy Moran had a fantastic game on Sunday, seeing off three different markers, but I am convinced that Conor Mortimer needs a playmaker to get him motoring. It isn't happening for him from play at the moment.

Ger Brady had one of those days on Sunday too where nothing went right for him. I felt he would have been relieved to get the call to come ashore. It was obvious from early on that he had lost his confidence. When that happens you are as well getting a fella out of the firing line.

At least the above seemed obvious from high in the stand; maybe it was not so glaringly obvious from ground level. Where I was sitting it struck me, looking at the good football men doing the stats for both sides nearby, that sometimes their expertise might be better used just for simple football stuff like that.

It comes down to players at the end of the day. They are playing well or playing badly and no amount of stats will camouflage or alter that.

Mayo still have a share of problems. They withdrew their full back early on. Not a good sign. And they would also benefit from swapping David Heaney and Billy Joe Padden. Somehow, Padden doesn't look quite right at number six but Heaney could do the job at centre back. Inside, Keith Higgins has improved. And Enda Devenney looks useful at wing back.

The big challenge now for John O'Mahony is to keep his side believing in the Republican mantra: "Tiocfaidh ar lá."

As for Donegal, they look like a team on the up. They have at least nine forwards for six positions, a great situation for a manager and the only language players really understand.

When Donegal brought on subs on Sunday they weren't just giving them a run, they strengthened the team each time. That the three subs scored in injury time proved that.

Brendan Devenney and Colm McFadden are very good players but they play like individuals. When they develop as a partnership - like Clarke and McDonnell or Donaghy and Gooch - they will do serious damage. The potential is there because McFadden is big and that allows Donegal the option of the early ball with Devenney floating around working off him.

The high ball in the modern game unnerves backs more than anything else. They all have pace nowadays and they all like coming on to the ball played in front of them. Donegal now have that option.

They have weaknesses at the back though. Thanks to their riches in the forward lines, they could move Christy Toye to midfield for his pace and athleticism and push Kevin Cassidy to the half-back line. Cassidy is solid and strong but doesn't look like a bona fide midfielder.

The real problems are, however, in the full-back line, where Andy Moran made hay on Sunday. Paddy Campbell wasn't bothered with him and Neil McGee was also withdrawn off him.

When Kieran Donaghy was on the field against Donegal in Letterkenny Kerry scored freely.

Brian McIver's slogan for the month ahead is clear: "A lot done, more to do." He is in a great position though. He virtually sacrificed last year by showing a couple of players the road in order to impose his style and his discipline on the team.

The prospect of Armagh coming to town and McIver's experiences of that side will combine to keep the lid on the players.

People might say they showed their hand a little early by winning the league. I don't believe that. The confidence they gained on Sunday will outweigh that factor easily.

'And another thing . . .'

That old chestnut about the Croke Park surface came up for roasting again at the weekend. You don't like to be too tough about it. Those in charge of the pitch are, you might say, caught between a rock and a hard place. They have to find a balance between playability and durability.

With players going out there you'd be basically advising them to wear the six studs. With Kerry over the last few years one man who wouldn't wear them for love or money was Mike McCarthy. We'd be looking at Mike wondering if he was going to stay on his feet. He just had this thing that he had to wear the moulded studs. Your heart would be in your mouth every time the ball would go in but Mike being Mike got away with it 99 times out of 100.

One match I remember is the All-Ireland quarter-final against Armagh last year. Seán O'Sullivan hit the deck two or three times early on and I asked what kind of boots he had on. Moulded studs. In the heat of battle I sent Harry O'Neill all around the pitch and into the dressingroom to bring out a pair of six-studded boots.

The Croke Park pitch poses unique problems. Five matches in less than 24 hours at the weekend is a heavy toll so the pitch has to be durable.

The nightmare scenario is a drought followed by a shower before a game. That happened on Sunday before the league final. The players in the two colleges games didn't experience the same problems because the rain stayed away for them. The problems may have been caused by evening dew or the pitch being watered too much. Either way there are difficulties. Sometimes on Sunday the game looked like Bambi on Ice as lads went to ground with nobody near.

You need some nerve now to play in the full-back line in Croke Park on a wet day. One slip and you're dead. You are fine on a straight run but when you have to turn sharply it's trouble. The high ball in Croke Park where full-back lines have to turn is going to be a significant weapon. Defenders are looking at a tough station.

The debate on footwear goes on. But the ground is so hard that no matter what studs you have you won't get grip some days. It's a real issue when players already have enough to worry about on the big day. Long-term the aesthetics of the pitch might have to be sacrificed for playability and pragmatism. It's a wonderful-looking pitch. It holds up with no muck or bog. But maybe we'll have to put up with a little bog for players to get a grip.

Finally, it was a pity to see so many empty seats on Sunday. And it was a chance wasted. The GAA should be encouraging as many kids as possible to attend matches like Sunday's where the place is going to be less than half full anyway. What a possible investment for the future.

There should be free entry for the kids and subsidised transport. Any youngster worth his salt would be hooked straight away by a visit to our theatre of dreams. That's advertising you couldn't buy.

Give kids the incentive to play the games and you've invested in the future.