We'll start with the vanquished. This was supposed to be Dublin's year. All the indications pointed to a team nearing full potential. Many of the players have been on board since Tommy Lyons's first season in 2002. All the old failings seemed ironed out.

The only thing that could stop them was themselves. Or a better Kerry team.

"Disappointment wouldn't come near how we are feeling in the dressingroom right now," said Dublin manager Paul Caffrey. "It's heart broken, it's a devastated dressingroom now at the minute, and it's going to take a while to get over this defeat.

"They have been great ambassadors for Dublin football this year and they put everything into it and I thought they left everything out on the pitch there today.

"We as a management team would be ferociously proud of how they handled themselves.

"It's up to the journalists now to analyse and break it down whatever way they want. Our good wishes are with Kerry now. They have proved themselves as magnificent champions. They are back in another All-Ireland final and they are trying to achieve something which hasn't been done in 17 years.

"You have all sorts of notions on the sideline but they don't come into it. Our players are very well drilled. They hung in there, even when the game went against us at the start of both halves and just fell a little bit short at the end.

"Kerry were better at the end."

In defeat, and considering his three-year term has concluded, Caffrey was always going to be asked about his future as Dublin manager. The response was typical considering his inbuilt dislike of all things media.

"I'm going back to DCU for a shower now."

And he abruptly departed.

"Cop yourself on," said Dublin selector Dave Billings to nobody in particular. The siege mentality continued in defeat.

"A huge loss for us," said Alan Brogan. "I won't tell any lies, we've been building up to this for a few years now. We thought this was the day. Unfortunately it hasn't worked out like that. When we go back we'll have another look at it and hopefully come back bigger and stronger."

Despite the failure to reach an All-Ireland final, Brogan supported the current management for another term.

"He is a fantastic manager. I don't think his job is finished until he delivers that All-Ireland and hopefully he will. I'm sure the county board will extend his contract. I, for one, and I'm sure all the players want him to stick around."

Down the hall, Kerry opened their dressingroom door and invited everyone in (they also do this in defeat).

"We were confident with the group of players that we had," said manager Pat O'Shea. "A lot of other fellas performed heroically out there today and covered themselves in glory."

Darragh Ó Sé went missing for the middle part of the game due to a hip injury that was temporarily cleared up with an injection. A unique final awaits. History in the making?

"I don't know about that. We'll enjoy tonight and then we'll see. Sure Cork are Cork. Steady up now . . ."