1.
Conor McManus, ex-Monaghan and The GAA Social.: “No one called it the way it turned out but this was all down to Kerry and their approach to the game. “They came after Donegal, set the agenda and had massive energy and intent right from the word go. And maybe Donegal were looking to settle into it. I think with 12 to 14 minutes on the clock they’d already ten points on the board. There was a lot of steel and grit attached to both David Clifford and Jack O’Connor when they spoke after”.
2.
Manus Boyle, ex-Donegal and The GAA Podcast: “They took the lad from the very first attack and their gameplan, they knew what Donegal were about. “Kerry had two great games in playing Armagh and Tyrone and that brought the best out of them. The two Cliffords, Seanie O’Shea, Jason Foley and Gavin White; they were just better. “For the likes of Murphy, Ryan McHugh, Paddy McBrearty and even Hugh McFadden, that will sting. I love watching David Clifford but not against Donegal. And Donegal worked on that. The emphasis was played on stopping David Clifford. “But Kerry’s first five scores came down the other side, the left. I’ve seen the likes of Maurice Fitz, James McCartan and Michael Murphy but I don’t think I’ve seen anything like David Clifford. “If there was one question I would have on Donegal it would be their lack of sharpness. Kerry were just quicker to the bounce of the ball and their handling much better. “2014 was hard to take as both teams weren’t completely at it. But today, no complaints as Kerry were just better”.
3.
Brendan Devenney, ex-Donegal and The DL Debate: “ The game was won in the first-half, that’s where the platform was laid by Kerry. Donegal will be so disappointed, so many of our players played within themselves. “They were facing a very different animal, we were bossed in the kickouts and Kerry were just relentless and ruthless going forward. “Sure Donegal came into it in the second-half but Kerry were much the better side. And Donegal looked heavy-legged. “Was it the schedule, the 11 championship games coming from a preliminary round in Ulster. Donegal won’t use that as an excuse but the normal intensity we bring in the zonal just wasn’t there. “We were side open for Kerry, playing into the platform player inside and coming from deep”.
4.
Oisin McConville, ex-Armagh and BBC: “You look at Paudie Clifford. He has scored three or four points in this game, but that wasn't the impact he had. It was the possessions he had, he controlled the game. “When it needed slowing down, he slowed it down. When it needed ball inside to cut Donegal open, he was the one to do that. “I think Donegal will regret that, but you could do that and they would beat you another way. That's the problem with Kerry. “Do you know what, we've seen that in the last three games. They've played with a chip on their shoulder. “If they continue to play with a chip on their shoulder nobody else in the country stands a chance with them, but they don't always play like that. Today we seen the best of them. “Jim McGuinness is a master tactician, but questions will rightly be asked about the way he set up his Donegal team for this game. “None of that will matter to Kerry, who will celebrate long into the night of claiming a record 39th All-Ireland title”.