Ulster Championship 2025

[tbrick18]

Donegal v Armagh largely went as expected. Donegal showing they looked like the better team by pulling ahead, but Armagh come back to make it a tight cagey affair. I'm sure the heat played a part, but Donegal looked dead on their feet from about half way through the 2nd half. It felt a bit like a fitter Armagh team putting it to a stronger Donegal team.
I was surprised at that tbh as I thought Donegal would be at least on a par on fitness.
It was an exciting game, but any better than the previous 2 Ulster Finals? I don't think so - they were cagey affairs too. All this fawning over it being "a game for the ages", according to Sean Cavanagh, is a bit much. These pundits seem unable to say anything that will cast any kind of doubt over the new rules - which I don't think did anything to make this a better game.
On balance, I think Donegal were the better side over the entirety of the game - but there are question marks over the strength of the bench when you see them bringing players back on who had already been taken off. Both teams are not as good as people think imo, but both will come out of their groups and will likely go deep into the championship.
Enjoyable match.

Scenes at the end will do Armagh no favours and I'd assume there'll be a couple of suspensions as a result and deservedly so. No need for it. And yeah you could say the Donegal player didn't need to be goading, but I'd also say Armagh were doing plenty of that during the game. One example was Ross McQuillan running 20 yards to have a bit of goading at the Donegal keeper after scoring a point. If you're going to give it, you have to be able to take it too. No place for players running onto a field to punch a man and no excuses either.

[trueblue1234]

Donegal v Armagh largely went as expected. Donegal showing they looked like the better team by pulling ahead, but Armagh come back to make it a tight cagey affair. I'm sure the heat played a part, but Donegal looked dead on their feet from about half way through the 2nd half. It felt a bit like a fitter Armagh team putting it to a stronger Donegal team.
I was surprised at that tbh as I thought Donegal would be at least on a par on fitness.
It was an exciting game, but any better than the previous 2 Ulster Finals? I don't think so - they were cagey affairs too. All this fawning over it being "a game for the ages", according to Sean Cavanagh, is a bit much. These pundits seem unable to say anything that will cast any kind of doubt over the new rules - which I don't think did anything to make this a better game.
On balance, I think Donegal were the better side over the entirety of the game - but there are question marks over the strength of the bench when you see them bringing players back on who had already been taken off. Both teams are not as good as people think imo, but both will come out of their groups and will likely go deep into the championship.
Enjoyable match.

Scenes at the end will do Armagh no favours and I'd assume there'll be a couple of suspensions as a result and deservedly so. No need for it. And yeah you could say the Donegal player didn't need to be goading, but I'd also say Armagh were doing plenty of that during the game. One example was Ross McQuillan running 20 yards to have a bit of goading at the Donegal keeper after scoring a point. If you're going to give it, you have to be able to take it too. No place for players running onto a field to punch a man and no excuses either.

I noticed that alright. What was that about? Did something happen prior to that that wasn't on TV. It's rare you see a player going at the keeper like that.

[David McKeown]

Donegal v Armagh largely went as expected. Donegal showing they looked like the better team by pulling ahead, but Armagh come back to make it a tight cagey affair. I'm sure the heat played a part, but Donegal looked dead on their feet from about half way through the 2nd half. It felt a bit like a fitter Armagh team putting it to a stronger Donegal team.
I was surprised at that tbh as I thought Donegal would be at least on a par on fitness.
It was an exciting game, but any better than the previous 2 Ulster Finals? I don't think so - they were cagey affairs too. All this fawning over it being "a game for the ages", according to Sean Cavanagh, is a bit much. These pundits seem unable to say anything that will cast any kind of doubt over the new rules - which I don't think did anything to make this a better game.
On balance, I think Donegal were the better side over the entirety of the game - but there are question marks over the strength of the bench when you see them bringing players back on who had already been taken off. Both teams are not as good as people think imo, but both will come out of their groups and will likely go deep into the championship.
Enjoyable match.

Scenes at the end will do Armagh no favours and I'd assume there'll be a couple of suspensions as a result and deservedly so. No need for it. And yeah you could say the Donegal player didn't need to be goading, but I'd also say Armagh were doing plenty of that during the game. One example was Ross McQuillan running 20 yards to have a bit of goading at the Donegal keeper after scoring a point. If you're going to give it, you have to be able to take it too. No place for players running onto a field to punch a man and no excuses either.

I noticed that alright. What was that about? Did something happen prior to that that wasn't on TV. It's rare you see a player going at the keeper like that.

There was a bit of niggle between the two just before the parade and they were yelling at each other just in front of me so I imagine it was a hangover from that. Doesn't excuse it mind.

[naka]

On suspensions it will be both sides getting them and if videos are correct it should be Armagh reserves and mc faddrn  ferry ( his choice language if what is being said  is actually true is quite the comment )
Tyrone and Derry will be content

[lurganblue]

Donegal v Armagh largely went as expected. Donegal showing they looked like the better team by pulling ahead, but Armagh come back to make it a tight cagey affair. I'm sure the heat played a part, but Donegal looked dead on their feet from about half way through the 2nd half. It felt a bit like a fitter Armagh team putting it to a stronger Donegal team.
I was surprised at that tbh as I thought Donegal would be at least on a par on fitness.
It was an exciting game, but any better than the previous 2 Ulster Finals? I don't think so - they were cagey affairs too. All this fawning over it being "a game for the ages", according to Sean Cavanagh, is a bit much. These pundits seem unable to say anything that will cast any kind of doubt over the new rules - which I don't think did anything to make this a better game.
On balance, I think Donegal were the better side over the entirety of the game - but there are question marks over the strength of the bench when you see them bringing players back on who had already been taken off. Both teams are not as good as people think imo, but both will come out of their groups and will likely go deep into the championship.
Enjoyable match.

Scenes at the end will do Armagh no favours and I'd assume there'll be a couple of suspensions as a result and deservedly so. No need for it. And yeah you could say the Donegal player didn't need to be goading, but I'd also say Armagh were doing plenty of that during the game. One example was Ross McQuillan running 20 yards to have a bit of goading at the Donegal keeper after scoring a point. If you're going to give it, you have to be able to take it too. No place for players running onto a field to punch a man and no excuses either.

I'd agree T. I dont think that the rule changes have improved the spectacle really, and if anything I think last year's Ulster Final was probably better. We certainly arent seeing any increase in use of the the footpass. Team's are still well able to keep the ball for long periods and run down the clock when necessary.

The 2 point probably needs to go. 

[Armamike]

Savage effort put in by both sets of players in that cauldron. You can't help but have huge respect.I don't think at any stage did I think Armagh are the team to win this though. Perfect day and no real 2 point threat. Maybe a returning Rian will help that later in the year.

Just a note on the "supporters" around me. The Donegal bucks with their repeated English soccer style chants about a former Armagh player and his ongoing legal case, similar style chants about another returned player and his alleged lifestyle choices, repeated shouts of "orange bastids", and "bring back the RUC" for some reason. The Armagh bucks in front of me barely looked in the direction of the pitch and instead it was just an opportunity for a social gathering and a chat with mates. Wasted tickets imo.

I had a crowd of Lurgan fans behind me on the hill. Good singing when Soupy came on but someone from the same group was throwing bottles of coke with the top off. I can pm you a photo of said group if you so desire. (Not sure which club they were from)

I'd well believe that Orior.  By no means am I saying Donegal fans were the only set up to no good. And when you add up all that behaviour and those riling comments, then you get scenes like you get in that shop after the game. Inevitable, but also embarrassing.

I must say, it was a much better experience getting out of Clones this year.  The Guards seemed to have it all running a bit better.

Not my experience unfortunately. Stuck in a car park for an hour and a half with not a single car getting out onto the road.  Won't be using that one again!

[bennydorano]

On the both teams are not as good as everyone thinks - I'd sort of agree but who is the standout? the 'big 4' are all pretty similar standard. I've said Galway for Sam from day one, but doesn't mean Armagh or Donegal couldn't take them in a one off game. As Saturday clearly showed you need luck to win anything in games of small margins.

[mackers]

The "how good" are the teams is all BS. What has been said that leaves the two teams "that good"?  All that has been said is that both teams are contenders which remains the same.  Galway didn't exactly blow Mayo away in the Connacht final but that doesn't stop them being strong contenders for Sam either.  Kerry struggled to beat Cork who were playing in Division 2 last year.

[Armamike]

Nothing between 4 or 5 teams.  Will come down to very fine margins, luck, injuries, ref calls on the day. Sounds cliched. But can't see one team on a pre destined path to winning it.

[tonto1888]

Donegal v Armagh largely went as expected. Donegal showing they looked like the better team by pulling ahead, but Armagh come back to make it a tight cagey affair. I'm sure the heat played a part, but Donegal looked dead on their feet from about half way through the 2nd half. It felt a bit like a fitter Armagh team putting it to a stronger Donegal team.
I was surprised at that tbh as I thought Donegal would be at least on a par on fitness.
It was an exciting game, but any better than the previous 2 Ulster Finals? I don't think so - they were cagey affairs too. All this fawning over it being "a game for the ages", according to Sean Cavanagh, is a bit much. These pundits seem unable to say anything that will cast any kind of doubt over the new rules - which I don't think did anything to make this a better game.
On balance, I think Donegal were the better side over the entirety of the game - but there are question marks over the strength of the bench when you see them bringing players back on who had already been taken off. Both teams are not as good as people think imo, but both will come out of their groups and will likely go deep into the championship.
Enjoyable match.

Scenes at the end will do Armagh no favours and I'd assume there'll be a couple of suspensions as a result and deservedly so. No need for it. And yeah you could say the Donegal player didn't need to be goading, but I'd also say Armagh were doing plenty of that during the game. One example was Ross McQuillan running 20 yards to have a bit of goading at the Donegal keeper after scoring a point. If you're going to give it, you have to be able to take it too. No place for players running onto a field to punch a man and no excuses either.

dont disagree with this but Ross hardly ran 20 yards. He had fisted the ball over the bar and was running towards the goals anyway. Still needless

[armaghniac]

Nothing between 4 or 5 teams.  Will come down to very fine margins, luck, injuries, ref calls on the day. Sounds cliched. But can't see one team on a pre destined path to winning it.

If any of these teams plays one of the others and misses goals as Armagh did on Saturday then the other team will proceed.

[OakLeaf]

Nothing between 4 or 5 teams.  Will come down to very fine margins, luck, injuries, ref calls on the day. Sounds cliched. But can't see one team on a pre destined path to winning it.

100%

You've got, Armagh, Donegal, Kerry, Galway and possibly Dublin. I wouldnt like to be betting the farm on a game between any of those.

[Armagh4sam2024]

No prizes for guessing the name of the club that so-called fans who caused the trouble in the Topaz are attached to. County board needs to take action as it's always the same culprits.

[Take the Mark]

No prizes for guessing the name of the club that so-called fans who caused the trouble in the Topaz are attached to. County board needs to take action as it's always the same culprits.

Aghagallon?

[Armagh18]

No prizes for guessing the name of the club that so-called fans who caused the trouble in the Topaz are attached to. County board needs to take action as it's always the same culprits.

Kilcoo?