After Dublin's 26-point mauling of Louth, the rest of the country are left wondering who can stop Jim Gavin's men from doing five-in-a-row?
A turbulent league campaign, rocked by some big defeats on the road and in HQ, gave the rest hope that the cracks are there - but after last weekend, it's pretty clear that the stick-poking this spring has only awoken the beast.
So while everyone asks which team can get the better of the Dubs, we've constructed a team that surely would topple Gavin's men - only problem is that we've had to dip into the resources of the rest of Ireland.
Drafting in six from Mayo, five from Donegal, four from Monaghan, Tyrone and Kerry, as well as a Galway duo and even a Kildare star - we have the perfect combination.
Adopting Mayo's toe-to-toe approach that made them the infamous nearly-men over the past decade, we reckon this team is tailored to beat Dublin at their own game.
Goalkeeper
It has to be Beggan. There's no other man you'd want between the sticks really. A solid platform for the restart and if our lads are short, he can always come up and nail a crucial free.
1- Rory Beggan - Monaghan
Full back line
The full back line doesn't necessarily need to be towering or physically strong. What it needs to be is mobile, good on the ball and have that bit of steel to it. Wylie and Ban Gallagher bring that Ulster physicality while Barrett is the reinforcement with plenty of miles on the clock against Dublin.
2- Chris Barrett - Mayo
3- Drew Wylie - Monaghan
4- Eoghan Ban Gallagher - Donegal
Half back line
In the half back line you need versatility. These guys will have the job of policing Ciaran Kilkenny in his playmaker role - you'd hope that Keegan can do that well but also make Kilkenny work back as much as possible. Cavanagh drops back into that sweeper/link man role between the lines. Giving O'Connell and one of the corner backs a licence to do their best Jack McCaffrey/James McCarthy impressions.
5- Lee Keegan - Mayo
6- Colm Cavanagh - Tyrone
7- Karl O'Connell - Monaghan
Midfield
The Dublin midfield operates with the smooth efficiency and frightening directness that any manager could only dream of having. This midfield aims to turn that into Gavin's nightmare. It's no easy task, but Murphy and O'Shea will be asked to bully any man in blue that dares come into the middle. On the ball, they can interchange duties between one of them venturing up forward, while the other sits back and just calls the shots from afar.
8- Michael Murphy - Donegal
9- Aiden O'Shea - Mayo
Half forward line
Probably the most important line in this team, these lads need to make everything tick. We've got the platform, now we need to hurt Dublin on the scoreboard. O'Connor and McHugh are your third and fourth midfielders in many senses. They will run themselves into the ground - but their work is crucial to pushing that midfielder up the pitch and giving the wing backs or a brave corner back a chance to penetrate from deep.
Because of this, they often find themselves less of a target when it comes to man marking and will always chip in with at least a point. Harte is one of the classiest players around. He can play practically anywhere, has almost unrivalled composure on the ball and that bit of genius, oh that genius. He's the quarterback.
10- Diarmuid O'Connor - Mayo
11- Peter Harte - Tyrone
12- Ryan McHugh - Donegal
Full forward line
This is it, we've the Dubs on the rack and can really put them away. Step up Clifford and Comer. Taking inspiration from the way Rock and Mannion combine up front - they'll always be found in the corners and can nail a score from anywhere or put through a Keegan or O'Connell coming in like a train. But they'll also be the first line of defence and will have to make life as difficult as possible for Dublin defenders.
The only man on the field who doesn't necessarily have to defend is McManus. Just stay on the edge of the square, Conor. Nail the frees and make us all envy how one man can be gifted with such an incredible talent.
13- David Clifford - Kerry
14- Conor McManus - Monaghan
15- Damien Comer - Galway
Bench
When things go wrong, which they probably will midway through the second-half when Gavin empties the bench to bring on Rory O'Carroll to stabilise defence, Michael Darragh MacAuley in the middle and maybe a returning Diarmuid Connolly to ruffle a few feathers - we need to hit back.
The perfect cocktail of battle-hardened experience and youthful curiosity to spring off the bench would be ideal to give us the edge in the dying minutes. McGee in defence brings a big man if needed, as does Tommy Walsh if we need a goal. The rest were all in with a shout of starting in the first place anyway.
Subs: David Clarke - Mayo, Keith Higgins - Mayo, Eamon McGee - Donegal, Tiernan McCann - Tyrone, Kevin Feely - Kildare, Mattie Donnelly - Tyrone, Shane Walsh - Galway, Sean O'Shea - Kerry, Paul Geaney - Kerry, Paddy McBrearty - Donegal, Tommy Walsh - Kerry.
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