Former Donegal captain Kevin Cassidy has insisted that his county and Tyrone are among a group of teams that can realistically challenge Dublin this year.
The ex-All-Star, whose life story will kick off TG4's 19th series of Laochra Gael on Thursday evening, is adamant that the six-in-a-row All-Ireland champions aren't 'light years ahead' of everyone.
Cassidy believes the two Ulster counties, along with beaten All-Ireland finalists Mayo and Allianz League holders Kerry, are genuine contenders though acknowledged that the gulf to the next chasing pack is enormous.
Cassidy expected Donegal to push Dublin hard in an All-Ireland semi-final tie last month but they never made it that far following a surprise Ulster final loss to Cavan.
"I was really looking forward to that game against Dublin," said Cassidy. "Mayo can do it, Mayo can take Dublin on man for man and they can go at them and I really thought Donegal could have given them a game, I really did. It's just a real pity that we didn't get to see that in action.
"God knows what'll happen by the time that chance swings around again, so I'm just disappointed that I didn't see it.
"I'm not so sure (Dublin are so far ahead). You look at Tyrone and the new management and new players they have - McShane is back this year, Conor McKenna will have another year under his belt.
"Kerry are going to be really hurt after last year and they are going to come back strong. I was really impressed with Mayo and the youngsters they brought through. Dublin are going to be caught - it's just a matter of the first team that catches them.
"Was there really that much in that game against Mayo? Had Mayo taken their chances...it's not as if Dublin are light years ahead. Dublin are so far ahead of the chasing pack in terms of teams number six, seven, eight and nine but the two, three and four counties just behind them are not that far off them."
Cassidy acknowledged that complacency cost Donegal against Cavan, claiming it'll be a valuable lesson for the players involved.
"It just happens and you can't blame the management or anything, players naturally just take their eye off the ball," said Cassidy. "People start to talk you up and you start to believe in the hype and you start to look forward instead of focusing on the task at hand.
"I think we learned a massive lesson this year, that you can't take any team for granted, especially in Ulster. I was looking ahead - and it's alright for me because I'm not in the camp - but I was really looking forward to that game against Dublin.
"I really thought Donegal could have given them a game this year, I really did. It's just a real pity we didn't get to see that in action."
Donegal have lost fitness expert Paul Fisher and coach Karl Lacey since the Championship ended but veteran defender Neil McGee, 35, is staying on for 2021.
Clubmate Cassidy is now McGee's boss at Gaoth Dobhair and said his close ally is optimistic about Donegal's chances.
"If Neil felt that Donegal had no chance, Neil would hang them up and play with the club for a couple of years," he said. "He feels Donegal are close and that's why he's going back."
Off the field Cassidy admitted that being a bar owner has been 'a nightmare' throughout the pandemic.
"We've opened and closed I think three times," he said. "This will be our fourth, the next time it happens. It's just been so demoralising, to be honest with you.
"We are lucky in a sense that the building is family owned so there are no major overheads hanging over you.
"But it's just getting the building ready, getting your staff, seeing if they are able to come back to work. All your suppliers, if they are still going...like, there has been four stock wastages so far where you basically empty the place and throw it away, so it is really tough, but what can we do, that's the industry we are in at the minute."
* TG4's Laochra Gael returns for a 19th series on Thursday evening at 9.30pm with the story of former Donegal star Kevin Cassidy.
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