Joe Brolly: Even Godlike Clifford will fall below the waves of Jimmy

JIMMY McGuinness endures as a man of mystery. No one can really pin him down. Like Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis Moriarty or Austin Powers, we are fascinated by him. In the same way as people were once enthralled by Houdini or Jose Mourinho, we are curious about this extraordinary, entirely self-sufficient man. For him, the backroom team is the bus driver and the jersey washer. If he had the time, he would probably do that himself as well.

I have been getting text messages over the last few days. “Keep this to yourself Joe, but the entire Donegal squad has flown to a five-star resort in Portugal for five days to tune up for the final on Sunday.” Later that same day, “Friend just rang me. He had a meeting at the Slieve Russell and walked in on the Donegal squad as they were getting on a bus to go for their morning session at Teemore’s pitch. Apparently they are in the Slieve Russell for the week. No contact with the outside world. No mobile phones. You didn’t hear this from me.” Then, “Who else can afford a pre All-Ireland training week in Dubai? Going all out on this one. Don’t mention my name in your article”

Not even Jimmy can be in three places at the same time. Or can he?

Who will win on Sunday? Well, we had Cork as the certainty in our accumulator last week. On Sunday, all seven Irish Independent pundits and hurling correspondents went for Cork, by wide margins. This was the latest in a long line of betting disasters this season. Another terrific accumulator was sabotaged when Mayo lost to Cavan in Mayo. Cavan. Jesus wept.

David Clifford has scored 8-53 in this year’s championship, in eight games, an average of almost 10 points per game. I swear if I bet on David to score more than one point on Sunday he would tear his hamstring in the warm-up.

The equation is simple enough: Can David Clifford score enough to win the game for this skilled Kerry team? Or will Donegal’s superior collective triumph?

Clifford has finally been unleashed in his full glory by Jim Gavin’s new game. What is extraordinary and unbelievable for other players is mundane for him. If he doesn’t score more than seven or eight points people say, “Clifford was quiet today” or “Clifford was off colour.” The way that we take his godlike football for granted is exemplified in the fact that he single handedly destroyed Tyrone with 1-9 in the semi-final and someone else got Man of the Match. Not only that, but everyone thought Joe O’Connor deserved it. Imagine anyone else in the country scoring that and not getting it. Welcome to Planet Clifford, population one.

Malachy O’Rourke, whose managerial career was built on double- and triple-marking, must have suffered a brain storm, deciding to leave poor Padraig Hampsey on Clifford to sink or swim. The search and rescue divers still haven’t found him.

Jimmy, or ‘Jommy’ as the Trinity Old Boys call him, will not make this mistake. Their hybrid zonalman marking defensive system is the best of its kind. When the opposition remotely look as though they might be threatening the goals, Donegal immediately swarm that area, tackling without fouling, preventing the three-pointer.

This has worked against everyone else because Jimmy’s systems always operate on the fundamental basis that no one can defy the laws of physics. Except David Clifford, who has his own laws.

Therefore, on this one occasion, Jimmy will stretch the immutable laws of the universe and David will receive the special treatment his special talent dictates.

Jimmy knows that if he can be held to six or seven points, Donegal will win. This means a sweeper, who will be rehearsing in Portugal or Cavan or Dubai until ‘Jommy’ is satisfied.

Kerry cannot stop Donegal scoring. No one can. Unlike Kerry, they do not rely on any individual. Their attacking system is multi purpose, a rotational basketball model designed for everyone to score from relatively simple positions. They do not have to force shots. They do not have to do anything spectacular. They simply have to follow the habits that have become automatic though endless rehearsal.

Unlike the last time they met in the final, Donegal’s system is no longer one dimensional. That day, Kerry simple mimicked it, Donegal’s sole strategic advantage was nullified and Kerry’s better players won out. Now, playing against Donegal is like playing against the sea. It pours through and over you. Come Sunday evening, the divers will be looking for Kerry.