This is a comfortable situation for Matt Kerrigan's Cavan side. Tyrone are untouchable favourites to land the title they probably would have won last year were it not for the foot-and-mouth outbreak. To have emerged from their division was an achievement for Cavan and their high-scoring defeat of Roscommon in the semi-finals added to the glow of an already successful campaign.

Tyrone's form this year has been mostly very impressive. Their two defeats in the division were marked by injuries, in the Donegal match, and a stirring fightback against Cork, who had built a huge lead in a tie largely irrelevant to Tyrone.

Their high-speed, all-action display in demolishing Mayo has to be qualified by the holders' inept attempts at competing, but individually and collectively the Ulster champions looked sharp.

Tyrone, of course, were similarly eye-catching when taking Derry for three goals in the Ulster semi-final but unexpectedly struggled in the final against Cavan.

Although under new management, Cavan have hardly changed in the one area that caused Tyrone a lot of problems, attack. The forwards move fast and combine well.

Pat Holmes, the Mayo manager, identified centrefield as the cockpit for this on the basis that his own pairing didn't prove too effective against Tyrone's Cormac McAnallen and Colin Holmes but that Cavan can be a greater test.

This is a sector that has changed for Cavan, partly out of necessity given Dermot McCabe's long-term injury but also out of preference. Pierce McKenna's career has been revived by Kerrigan's preference for traditional direct football and Cathal Collins was outstanding in the semi-finals as Roscommon went through four centrefielders.

A good platform would at least enable Cavan's forwards to have a go and inhibit Tyrone's pacy half backs from sight-seeing. Cavan's defence is by no means watertight either and if it comes down to a shoot-out between the two attacks anything could happen.

Both sides have riddled Roscommon in this campaign but Tyrone look that bit more consistent and formidable and if they can head off Cavan's customary goal charge in the opening minutes they have the composure to win the county's first senior national title.