An early two-goal blast from Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden, who each scored 1-4, helped Jim McGuinness’ men lead from start to finish.

Mayo emerged with great credit though, recovering from being 2-1 to 0-0 down after 11 minutes to make the victors sweat for their eventual victory.

However, it was a bridge too far for the Connacht champions as they fell to their third All-Ireland SFC final defeat in eight years.

The anticipation of a close, physical contest - allied to both counties’ long searches for All-Ireland success - whetted the appetites of the 82,269 spectators present.

McGuinness and his Mayo counterpart James Horan, two of the most promising young managers in the business, had their charges primed for an intriguing battle of wills and tactical nous.

But nothing could have prepared Mayo for the storming start produced by the Ulster champions, who had the benefit of a swirling wind.

Murphy took down a lobbed pass from Karl Lacey in the third minute, shrugged off his marker Kevin Keane and blasted high past goalkeeper David Clarke.

It was a thunderous strike that gave Clarke little chance of stopping it, the goal igniting Donegal’s challenge with Mayo struggling to gain an early foothold.

McFadden clipped over a close range free before Mayo had their first sight of the posts. But Enda Varley missed a difficult free from the right and Donegal built ominously from the back.

Cillian O’Connor was soon swamped for space as Mayo coughed up precious possession, the turnover hitting them hard as the Tir Chonaill men broke downfield for their second goal.

Paddy McBrearty had a point attempt bounce down off the right hand post and the ball broke kindly for McFadden to slip it to the net past Clarke.

The Mayo skipper came to his side’s rescue moments later, denying McFadden at point blank range, as the nervy westerners hung on grimly.

Thankfully, they got on the scoreboard in the 16th minute courtesy of a Kevin McLoughlin point and free-taker O’Connor supplied a second score in quick succession.

It was in defence and midfield that Mayo were being outmanoeuvred as McGuinness’ charges continued to stride forward with purpose, running hard and picking their passes with precision.

An example of which saw Aidan O’Shea, whose fitness was called into question beforehand, being unable to keep up with Ryan Bradley who broke through to make it 2-2 to 0-2.

McFadden hammered over his second point, profiting from another turnover, with Mayo unable to convert their chances - O’Connor and Conroy miscuing on a couple of occasions.

McLoughlin got them back on track, getting away from Anthony Thompson’s reach to left foot the ball home for his second point.

Varley drew a foul for O’Connor to close the gap to five points, with 29 minutes gone, and another free from O’Connor drew Horan’s men closer.

The Connacht champions were enjoying their best spell, winning more kick-outs and using possession intelligently. Conroy was picked out by Colm Boyle for a rousing effort from the left.

Suddenly, Donegal were dithering and they needed an injury-time free from McFadden to end their 16-minute scoreless spell.

But Mayo were not finished, galloping downfield to supply Varley for the well-taken final point of a breathless first half.

Murphy was pulled back into centre-field before the break, but normal service was resumed for the third quarter with a McFadden free edging them 2-5 to 0-7 clear.

O’Connor replied with his fourth successful free and as the tit-for-tat nature of the game continued, defender Frank McGlynn slotted Donegal’s sixth point.

Mayo were creating more scoring chances than the Ulstermen, but a series of wides from Barry Moran, Varley and Conroy dented their confidence.

A crisply-struck 45-metre free from Murphy was followed by a close-in score from Varley, who converted his first free at the third time of asking.

O’Connor’s fifth followed from an acute angle, whittling the margin down to three once again. Both sides showed huge commitment and immense fitness levels as the end-to-end fare continued.

Another towering kick from Murphy kept his side on course and a third free from closer in, won by the tireless McFadden, extended their lead to 2-9 to 0-10.

It was almost one-way traffic now as Rory Kavanagh’s dangerous ball in was fisted over the crossbar by the increasingly influential Murphy, taking his tally to 1-4.

They were key moments and Mayo looked decidedly flat as the final whistle loomed. Substitute Richie Feeney pointed from play and defender Lee Keegan followed suit, with Aidan O’Shea moved into the full-forward line.

Donegal reacted by working big midfielder Neil Gallagher through for a swift response, substitute Christy Toye doing well in the build-up.

Substitute Jason Gibbons cancelled that effort out but Mayo needed a goal at this late stage. The only opening came when Seamus O’Shea, another player sprung from the bench, stumbled as he tried to finish past Paul Durcan in a crowded goalmouth.

Donegal had done enough to see out a glorious triumph in the September sunshine, with Murphy fittingly leading the crowd in a chorus of ‘Jimmy’s Winning Matches’, undoubtedly the GAA song of the year, after he received the trophy.

Scorers: Donegal: M Murphy (0-3f), C McFadden (0-3f) 1-4 each, R Bradley, F McGlynn, N Gallagher 0-1 each

Mayo: C O’Connor 0-5 (0-5f), K McLoughlin, E Varley (0-1f) 0-2 each, M Conroy, R Feeney, L Keegan, J Gibbons 0-1 each

DONEGAL: Paul Durcan; Paddy McGrath, Neil McGee, Frank McGlynn; Eamon McGee, Karl Lacey, Anthony Thompson; Neil Gallagher, Rory Kavanagh; Ryan Bradley, Leo McLoone, Mark McHugh; Paddy McBrearty, Michael Murphy (capt), Colm McFadden.

Subs used: David Walsh for Bradley (41 mins), M McElhinney for McBrearty (48), Christy Toye for McLoone (57), Dermot Molloy for McElhinney (70+2).

MAYO: David Clarke (capt); Kevin Keane, Ger Cafferkey, Keith Higgins; Lee Keegan, Donal Vaughan, Colm Boyle; Barry Moran, Aidan O'Shea; Kevin McLoughlin, Jason Doherty, Alan Dillon; Enda Varley, Cillian O'Connor, Michael Conroy.

Subs used: Alan Freeman for Doherty (50 mins), Jason Gibbons for Conroy (59), Richie Feeney for Varley (61), Seamus O’Shea for Moran (70).

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois).