Moran's Mayo side return to the scene of their crime this weekend, and the Derry man is adamant that the win over the Leinster champions should not be the pinnacle of his players' season.

He said: "It was certainly a marvellous contest between two immense teams, in the semi-final. Dublin played their part in a fantastic contest.

"We could have been buried in the first half. When you get away from the euphoria of the tight finish and the excitement, we analysed the video and I can't take away from the players' fight and the character and the comeback.

But as a coach, you've got to go deeper than that and there are aspects of that game, I mean at times, Dublin, to be fair, probably should have closed it out and again, Laois (against us) as well.

"We were two points down with a couple of minutes to go - no doubt about it, we were worried alright," he added.

"I felt we needed a goal. But we got a couple of points, got a spring in our step and Andy Moran got a crucial goal.

"At the end of the day, that Dublin match is in the past. It was a tremendous result at the time, but it's going to be no use to us if we can't perform on Sunday."

Moran cannot envisage not having John Morrison, his enigmatic assistant and loyal friend, beside him on Sunday.

The duo, who have dilligently made the 308-mile round trip from their northern homes to Mayo since their appointment last October, have been essential to Mayo's assault on their first All-Ireland title since 1951.

Anybody who witnessed their workings on the training pitch, on the cold winter's nights in Castlebar and Ballyvary, could not fault their dedication and complete faith in their team.

Asked about his relationship with Morrison, Moran explained: "He's absolutely brilliant fun. He takes after his father, he has so many sayings it's incredible.

"John's been working in Ulster for years and years. I have known him through the coaching circles, not intimately, but five years ago I went down to watch him coach a team - the Armagh ladies - and I was just so impressed by what I saw.

"He would coach teams for 24 hours a day if he could, because he's that enthusiastic about it. He's a tremendous friend as well."

Morrison has had the phrase 'You only lose if you quit' pinned to Mayo's dressing room walls this season - they plan on doing neither this Sunday afternoon.

The Mayo team will be announced tonight after training.