Ulster Senior Championship Final: Armagh (holders) v Donegal (today, Healy Park, Omagh, 2pm)
ULSTER champions Armagh put their title on line against Donegal in this afternoon’s senior provincial final in Healy Park.
This is the only senior provincial decider to take place this year with Ulster the only province to run off the competition and now just two teams remain - defending champions Armagh and Donegal, who are back after a year’s absence from the competition.
Donegal have a remarkable track record in the Ulster championship over the last few years. They haven’t lost an Ulster championship game since 2016 when Cavan beat them in the semi-finals. They won their first title in 2015 and added further ones in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and Maxi Curran’s charges are out to clinch a fifth winners’ medal in seven years.
The Orchard County, however, will certainly not give up their title lightly but manager Ronan Murphy knows they have to be at the top of their game.
“Everybody is looking forward to the final. It’s an Ulster final and the final of any competition should never be taken as a given when these opportunities come around. We won the title last year and we are keen to win it this year,” he said.
“Donegal will present a very difficult challenge too. They are a top, top team. We know that we have to perform to our very best if we are going to do that.”
This is the third final that the two sides have contested and Armagh, who are appearing in their fourth consecutive Ulster final, do not have a great record against Donegal when it comes to this stage having lost the 2018 and 2019 finals. Nine starters from the 2019 final are still key players for Armagh, the likes of captain Kelly Mallon, full back Clodagh McCambridge, Aoife McCoy, Blaithin Mackin, Aimee Mackin, who picked up the GPA Ladies Player of the Month for July recently, and Caroline O’Hanlon, who was in international netball action for Northern Ireland in Glasgow yesterday evening and flew back home for today’s final. There are plenty of new faces too since that 2019 final and Murphy recognises that, not dwelling on the past but keeping it in the present.
“This is a completely different team that played Donegal in previous Ulster finals so it’s a good chance for these younger girls or girls that haven’t played them before to play against them.
Donegal are an excellent team, some top forwards so it’s a big challenge for us and one we are looking forward to,” he said.
Both sides exited the All-Ireland series at the quarter-finals stage. Armagh lost to Meath, who have went on to reach their first ever senior final, and Donegal went out to defending champions Dublin, who remain on course for a fifth consecutive title.
This final presents a unique opportunity to finish the season on a winning note especially after the disappointment of losing in the All-Ireland knockout stages.
“If you don’t win the All-Ireland the season ends on a downer only that’s not going to be the case and ironically we would have pushed hard for this competition to be played prior to the All-Ireland and we thought it would have been great preparation but maybe now it’s a godsend because it is going to be an opportunity to finish off on a final and we have a good record in the Ulster championship of late,” said Donegal boss Curran.
“If they pull the performance out of the bag there is a chance they will have an Ulster title and a fifth Ulster medal for a lot of them and that is no mean feat. There were a lot heartbroken after the Dublin game. We felt we had a great chance against Dublin on the day but it is what it is, that’s football. We are fortunate to have an Ulster final to look forward to.”
He too knows that past results especially in the Ulster final mean little now and he is expecting a real battle from the Orchard County and hopes that their division one experience will stand to them.
“It’s going to be a real battle and Armagh will hold no fear of us or us them. There’s a trophy on the line and it has the makings of a great game,” he said.
“They have a long history with Donegal, many a battle over the years and no love lost. At the end of the day they are playing in division two and may not be as battled hardened as ourselves in terms of paying against the bigger teams but you would have to hope that would be an advantage for us.
