TG4 Ulster Ladies' SFC final
Armagh (holders) v Donegal (Sunday, Owenbeg, 3.30pm)
ARMAGH hope to rewrite the history books by becoming only the second county to achieve four consecutive Ulster Senior Championship titles with victory over Donegal in this afternoon’s final.
Only Monaghan have managed four in-a-row (2010-2013) and on Armagh’s current form it is hard to look past them not joining this elite list.
For many, this is Armagh’s title to lose. They have been one of the most consistent teams in the country this year having clinched the National Football League Division Two title last month, coming through that competition unbeaten, before booking their place in today’s final with victories over Donegal and Cavan.
Donegal, despite defeat to Armagh in the second round-robin game, had recorded victory over Cavan in their opening game and that proved enough as the Orchard County defeated Cavan in the final round game to ensure both today’s finalists qualified for the final.
That was Maxi Curran’s side’s first win of the season, a much welcomed and needed one, after a tough Division One campaign that saw them relegated and ironically their place at the top table taken by Armagh for next season.
Donegal, in their sixth final in seven years this afternoon, have not won the Ulster title since 2019 when they achieved three in-a-row. If they cause an upset on Sundy, it will be a fifth title for the Tir Chonaill girls. Armagh already have five Ulster titles in the bag in this their 13th ever provincial senior final.
In recent years these two have been the stronger counties in the province and it’s no surprise at least one of them has contested all but one of the finals played over the last decade. This is the fifth final in which they will have met in the last six years and up to now both have won two, but going on form and results so far this year the scales are tipped in Armagh’s favour to make it 3-2 on the scoring card.
The last two finals between these sides – 2021 and 2022 - have been exciting and tense battles that went right down to the wire. Who can forgot Orchard captain Kelly Mallon’s late, late extra-time goal that saw Armagh snatch victory by the narrowest of margins, 3-17 to 2-19, as Donegal suffered a one point defeat to their opposition for the second consecutive year.
Eight points separated the sides when they met earlier this month, the champions winning 1-15 to 2-4. Armagh did have to come from behind that day when they were two behind them at half-time but they proved too strong in the second half. A similar winning margin tomorrow would not be unsurprising but this is championship and anything can happen.
For many in this Donegal side it will be first taste of a senior provincial final with Maxi Curran blooding a lot of new players this season and handing senior debuts to players such as Saskia Boyle, Laoise Ryan, Katie Dowds, Kate Long, Cait Gillespie, and Ciara McGarvey. A first senior final will be a big occasion for these girls so the experience and calmness of captain Niamh McLaughlin, vice captain Emer Gallagher, Katy Herron, Nicole McLaughlin and Karen Guthrie, who returned for the championship, will be crucial if Donegal are to ask questions of Armagh.
Armagh have a very settled look about them although manager Shane McCormack is not afraid to change things up if need be with a strong panel at his disposal. Aimee Mackin is the championship’s top scorer with 3-17 to date while her captain Kelly Mallon is second with 3-7. Donegal’s Guthrie has tallied 1-5 in the championship so far.
The Orchard defence is solid and well marshalled by Clodagh McCambridge in full-back and Lauren McConville in front of her, although they will been keen to keep the goals out having conceded two against Donegal and two against Cavan but their prowess in front of goal at the other end can take care of that.
