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Could be a  last shot at ulster for alot of Armagh players like Grugan, Campbell, Murnin, Forker who have given great service to Armagh for 10 plus years.  There is not alot between the sides, though Donegal will have the edge on the sideline and have came through the tougher side of the draw. 

My main hope is that Armagh play on the front foot, but the likelyhood is that it will be low scoring and a lot of possession based football. 

This game would have been earmarked as season defining by most supporters back when the Ulster championship draw was made last Autumn. You could also say that it could well define the Geezer era. The only surprise is that it is Donegal and not Derry whom we face. It does feel like now or never for a lot of those players but then you could have said the same last season and yet we have arrived back in another final with a good chance of winning.

I really hope we don't fall into the trap of engaging in the slugfest that many seem to be predicting, it doesn't really suit the type of player we have. If it is reduced to a hand passing, possession style game then I think Donegal have better players than us at this type of game. However we have the better kick passers and are more suited to that fast, physical game. We need to play to the strengths of our best players like Rian, Grugan and Murnin and not rely on running the ball endlessly up the pitch. We also have a lot of firepower to introduce from the bench in the last 20 minutes which could be crucial.     

I don't know. I just have visions of Rian O'Neill giving a Tohillesque tour de force, driving Armagh on to win through sheer force of will.

Pundits leaning Armagh from what I've heard so far. "It's their time!" seems to be the consensus.

O'Neill will do well to see out the game!

on what basis?

He's a hothead...could have went 3 times with close fist tackles / hits along the Gerry Arthur side last year.

he looks to have settled some this year, albeit he hasnt played an awful lot. I hope he has as we wont win without him

Think he's definitely learned to play on the edge not over it. Absolutely we need him in top form to have any hope

It has worked out well playing him around the middle in the last few games since he can play his way into the game, get on the ball a lot more and therefore he doesn't get as frustrated as when he is playing inside. The break has done him good and his long range kicking ability and free taking will be vital on Sunday.   

Madrid never really look that impressive but they are the masters of knock out football and knowing how to win big games. Can't see Dortmund putting it up to them in the final either.

Not a fan of VAR but that was one occasion where it was of use.

I dont buy this Donegal BS (esp M.Murphy), that Donegal are only few months into their plan.

Many of these players were around in previous successful regimes.

They have plenty of experienced players so they will not be viewing this as bonus territory, they will be going to win and will expect to win. There is no guarantee they will be back next year and you need to strike when the iron is hot. Same as Armagh. But that wasn't the most notable part of the article. That was reserved for him claiming that Ethan Rafferty should start the final after 10 months of not playing a match. Of course he would love that to happen so that McGuinness can set up another Odhran Lynch style ambush.

In more cute hoor-ism, McBrearty in Irish News said they do practice penalties... 1 page over, McGuinness said they dont... no time 

Jimmy was on the back page of the Irish News a few days ago stating that Patton would be fit for the final. Which makes me think that he actually won't be fit!

I dont buy this Donegal BS (esp M.Murphy), that Donegal are only few months into their plan.

Many of these players were around in previous successful regimes.

They have plenty of experienced players so they will not be viewing this as bonus territory, they will be going to win and will expect to win. There is no guarantee they will be back next year and you need to strike when the iron is hot. Same as Armagh. But that wasn't the most notable part of the article. That was reserved for him claiming that Ethan Rafferty should start the final after 10 months of not playing a match. Of course he would love that to happen so that McGuinness can set up another Odhran Lynch style ambush.

[Armagh will have to play the same way they did against Down and hope that the forwards they have will play better than Donegal's.]

On the actual game I think it'll be a snoozefest much like Tyrone Donegal/Armagh Down. Armagh will have to play the same way they did against Down and hope that the forwards they have will play better than Donegal's. I think they just about have the better players but there will be vey little in it.

Bookies with a 1pt handicap aren't usually too far wrong!

This is what Donegal would love us to do. Play the game on their terms and reduce it to an arm wrestle that ends up as another game of nerves in the last 5 minutes since they are the masters at this type of game. If we are looking for a template then go back to the 2022 championship when we played them twice.

The first time we sat back and engaged in a defensive arm wrestle that ended in a comprehensive defeat. We drew them again in the qualifiers and went more front foot, high energy, gung ho type game and we inflicted a heavy defeat on them. The latter is the template for beating them on Sunday. Press all of their kick outs since they have an untested goalkeeper or even if Patton is fit to play he will not be in top shape. Kick plenty of ball inside as I think they are weak at defending one on one in their full back line. Plus we have the ball winning personnel to cause them trouble. If we play a hard running game of containment it plays to the strengths of Donegal and reduces the game to a long range point kicking contest and a game of nerve.   

I could be absolutely wrong of course and I hope that Armagh play direct man to man and do inflict a heavy defeat on Donegal. If only that the game seemed to have moved on a bit to a more man to man style recently and Donegal have taken it right back to basics so I hope that style is beaten.

I just think that if Armagh had to play negatively against a very poor Down team they'll be primed for the same approach against a better version of it!

Down didn't have players who were capable of kicking points outside 30 metres, the difference is that Donegal do have those players.

It doesn't have to be man to man, those days are long gone. But we need to leave at least 3 forwards up the pitch and leave us with a kicking option on the counter attack and press their kick outs to take them out of their comfort zone. Anything else is to ply Donegal on their own terms.

[Armagh will have to play the same way they did against Down and hope that the forwards they have will play better than Donegal's.]

On the actual game I think it'll be a snoozefest much like Tyrone Donegal/Armagh Down. Armagh will have to play the same way they did against Down and hope that the forwards they have will play better than Donegal's. I think they just about have the better players but there will be vey little in it.

Bookies with a 1pt handicap aren't usually too far wrong!

This is what Donegal would love us to do. Play the game on their terms and reduce it to an arm wrestle that ends up as another game of nerves in the last 5 minutes since they are the masters at this type of game. If we are looking for a template then go back to the 2022 championship when we played them twice.

The first time we sat back and engaged in a defensive arm wrestle that ended in a comprehensive defeat. We drew them again in the qualifiers and went more front foot, high energy, gung ho type game and we inflicted a heavy defeat on them. The latter is the template for beating them on Sunday. Press all of their kick outs since they have an untested goalkeeper or even if Patton is fit to play he will not be in top shape. Kick plenty of ball inside as I think they are weak at defending one on one in their full back line. Plus we have the ball winning personnel to cause them trouble. If we play a hard running game of containment it plays to the strengths of Donegal and reduces the game to a long range point kicking contest and a game of nerve.   

Given how good they were as players Kildare were probably never likely to change management during the season. However I thought that they might have walked themselves after their Leinster exit after a catastrophic year to date. I can't see them getting a tune out of those same players when really they should be winning this cup based on the level of players available.

Down are worthy favourites and will have a point to prove after losing the last 2 big finals in Croke Park. They will have a big edge on the minnows purely on their athleticism and fitness but they lack any real good kickers of the ball when the levels of the opposition begin to increase and they can match them for running power. I'm not sure any teams in this competition are at that level though so Down to win it. 

Lucky free but some kick from Gleeson to win it, Mayo will be kicking themselves.

Shocking last 10 minutes from Gough today.

Referee doing Galway no favours today.

Walsh on fire all of a sudden, still has a bit of class.

Walsh has been anonymous since he came on.

Mayo have allowed Galway back into the game completely of their own doing. I don't think either of these sides are AI contenders on this viewing but it's competitive and a decent match.