As for Mayo, they have become an altogether different proposition under James Horan.

The Dublin win showed their unrivalled ability to adapt and overcome, something that perhaps was not a hallmark of theirs in years gone by.

Horan wants his team to play what's in front of them as opposed to a rigidly devised system.

Flexibility is everything, and it seems to be working so far.

Read more about how new-look Mayo turned themselves into something of a footballing chameleon here.

Image source, BBC Sport

We'll not look back for too long, as there's plenty that has been happening this season that we need to talk about.

Today's match will go a long way to deciding the three-man shortlist and eventual winner of the Footballer of the Year award.

If you had to name a three-man list right now though, I don't think you could justify not having Kieran McGeary on it.

The Pomeroy man has been omnipresent for his side this year, through Ulster and again in the stunning semi-final against Kerry.

Equally as adept going forward as he is defensively, with an engine that has seemingly limitless capacity, he has produced a fairly sensational individual season thus far.

Read more about what Tyrone's all-action man has made of his side's journey to the final.

Image source, BBC Sport

Enda McGinley
Three-time Tyrone All-Ireland winner

It hasn't been quite as long a wait for Tyrone, whose current joint-manager Brian Dooher climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand to hold Sam Maguire aloft in 2008 in the Red Hands' most recent triumph.

A magical period for the Ulster county that saw them win the competition for the third time in six years.

We're going to briefly depart the present and look back at the past, with the help of the brilliant Dr Mick Loftus.

Look, I don't want to bang on about the curse any more than you really *really* don't want me to.

So let's leave it like this: Mayo haven't won the All-Ireland since 1951, only two members of that panel are alive today and one of those is Dr Mick, who went on to become GAA President in the mid 1980s.

10 finals, 12 if you count replays, have been lost since 1951 and for that reason no county is more desperate to lift Sam than Mayo.

Have a look at what a win today would mean for Dr Mick and the entire county.

For more from the good doctor, this brilliant read here is worth five minutes of your time.

A late change for Mayo sees Oisin Mullin come into the starting side in place of Enda Hession.

You have to feel sorry for Hession who, as mentioned earlier, was instrumental in turning that semi-final around. He'll have his part to play today mind you.

A big boost for Mayo though having the reigning Young Footballer of the Year passed fit to start.

Tyrone will start as named despite rumours of a change.

Our man Mark getting a helping hand at Croker today!

How great to have 40,000 supporters filtering in to the stands. It's not the full compliment, but you can bet it will sounds like it.

Enda McGinley
Three-time Tyrone All-Ireland winner

As for Tyrone, they've named an unchanged team from their semi-final win.

That means Cathal McShane and Darragh Canavan are among a bench with serious firepower, and will be expected to play their part in the second half.

Sounds as though there might be a late change to this, but here is the side that was named yesterday.

TYRONE

1. Niall Morgan (Edendork)

2. Michael McKernan (Coalisland)

3. Ronan McNamee (Aghyaran)

4. Padraig Hampsey (Coalisland)

5. Frank Burns (Pomeroy)

6. Peter Harte (Errigal Ciaran)

7. Kieran McGeary (Pomeroy)

8. Brian Kennedy (Derrylaughan)

9. Conn Kilpatrick (Edendork)

10. Conor Meyler (Omagh St Enda's)

11. Michael O'Neill (Ardboe)

12. Niall Sludden (Dromore)

13. Darren McCurry (Edendork)

14. Mattie Donnelly (Trillick)

15. Conor McKenna (Eglish)

Image source, BBC Sport

Content and context galore coming your way between now and throw-in, and of course live radio commentary from Croke.

But let's start with the team news as it stands.

Two Mayo changes from their *epic* semi-final win. Enda Hession was a full-on super-sub when he was introduced against the Dubs, and today he starts in place of the injured Eoghan McLaughlin who required jaw surgery after that huge hit from John Small.

Bryan Walsh replaces Darren MacHale, while Aidan O'Shea moves to centre-forward having been replaced following an ineffective 50 minutes against Dublin at full-forward.

MAYO

1.Rob Hennelly (Breaffy)

2.Padraig O'Hora (Ballina Stephenites)

3.Lee Keegan (Westport)

4.Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber)

5.Paddy Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels)

6.Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore)

7.Enda Hession (Garrymore)

8.Matthew Ruane (Breaffy)

9.Conor Loftus (Crossmolina)

10.Diarmuid O'Connor (Ballintubber)

11.Aidan O Shea (Breaffy)

12.Bryan Walsh (Ballintubber)

13.Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)

14.Tommy Conroy (The Neale)

15.Ryan O'Donoghue (Beal an Mhuirthead)

Image source, BBC Sport

It has been a while since a lot of us last travelled.

Bet you've travelled more recently than the Sam Maguire Cup, though.

It has been just shy of seven years, or 2,548 days to be precise, since the trophy last left Dublin on All-Ireland final day. Since then it has taken up residence in the capital, some feared it might never leave again. At times it did kind of feel like that.

But now Sam's bags are packed and his ears are primed to be tied with ribbons of lesser-spotted colours. Red and green or red and white?

The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final is special every year but this one, anticipation-wise, even for a stage as old and storied as this, feels pretty unique.

A genuine 50/50 contest. Storylines everywhere you look. Two counties going for a fourth title. Mayo for the first time in 70 years. Tyrone at the first attempt in the Logan and Dooher reign.

Oh, and 40,000 fans inside GAA HQ.

Strap yourselves in.

Image source, BBC Sport