Durcan: Kerry are football's kingpins

Donegal goalkeeper Paul Durcan has played down his county's favourites tag ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final against Kerry, describing the Munster side as the "kingpins" of the game.

The Ulster champions stunned heavily fancied Sam Maguire holders Dublin in the semi-final but Durcan insists that Kerry's pedigree, in leading the All-Ireland honour roll with 36 wins and presence of multiple title-winners in the team, makes them dangerous opponents.

"It's an All-Ireland final, there's going to be pressure," Durcan told RTÉ Sport.

"You're playing the kingpins of football.

"We're playing a team that has a lot of All-Ireland medals. A lot of our boys have one each but it's nothing compared to what Kerry have.

"We're just going to have to concentrate on our own performance and I think we're experienced enough to do that."

"We're playing a team that has a lot of All-Ireland medals. A lot of our boys have one each but it's nothing compared to what Kerry have."

Durcan was highly impressed with the manner of the Kingdom's semi-final victory over Mayo after a titanic two-game battle.

"We got to see the other two semi-finals [first game and replay] and they were exceptional games of football so it stands to reason that Kerry are an exceptional footballing team," he said.

"They were hugely physical games. The second game was the game of the year for me. I enjoyed watching every minute of it, it was exceptional stuff."

Donegal and Kerry last met in the championship in 2012 when the Ulstermen edged the sides' quarter-final clash on their way to a second ever All-Ireland title.

Durcan was delighted with his side's display in the shock victory over Dublin and puts it down to having faith in their own game plan, rather than concentrating on their opponents.

"We had to look at ourselves and our own game and implement the way we wanted to play. I think we did that," he said.

"Going in ahead at half-time, it felt like we were very lucky to do that, and at a huge advantage.

"We pushed on well after half-time and those scores that came in early in the second half were huge in the game."

Live coverage of Kerry v Donegal in the All-Ireland football final from 12.30pm on RTÉ2 (throw-in 3.30pm). Watch live on RTÉ Player (Ireland only) and worldwide via GAAGO. Live radio coverage from 2pm on RTÉ Radio 1.

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