Champions collide this evening in Clones as Armagh and Donegal meet in an blockbuster Ulster SFC final.
The Ulster winners in one corner, the All-Ireland champions in the other. One team has the trophy the other covets.
The only other time the provincial and All-Ireland champions have met in the Ulster SFC was back in 2009 when Tyrone were the holders of the Sam Maguire and they defeated the-then Ulster champions Armagh by three points in Clones.
Kieran McGeeney’s men got the better of the Red Hands in St Tiernach’s Park in this season’s semi-finals.
Indeed, if they win their first Ulster title since 2008, they would face a quick rematch with Malachy O’Rourke’s men in the All-Ireland series, joining Mayo and Cavan in Group One.
The losers will join Galway, Dublin and Derry in what has been dubbed the ‘Group of Death’ and will face the Oak Leafers at home in round one.
As if these teams needed any extra incentive to win? They met three times last season with a kick of a ball separating the teams. The League game in the Box-It Athletic Grounds was a draw with Donegal winning the Division Two final by one point in Croke Park.
Last year’s provincial decider went to penalties and Michael Murphy’s return, coupled with a red card to Aidan Forker, ensured Donegal kept the upper hand on Armagh when they locked horns in Ballybofey in February.
Today’s Ulster final is likely to go right down to the wire and, perhaps, over it and we’ll have all the latest build-up and team news ahead of throw-in.
Key Events
Full-time: Armagh 0-28 Donegal 2-23
Goal! Armagh 0-26 Donegal 2-22
Half-time in extra-time: Armagh 0-25 Donegal 1-22
We're back under way
Full-time: Armagh 0-23 Donegal 1-20
KEY EVENT
Full-time: Armagh 0-28 Donegal 2-23
Ethan Rafferty fouls Ciaran Moore and Niall O'Donnell, but he opts against taking the shot. Donegal hold possession and they are the Ulster champions once again!
Unfortunatley, the celebrations have been marred by some ugly scenes with several fight breaking out!
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-28 Donegal 2-23
Niall O'Donnell plays a one-two with Michael Langan before kicking his second point to edge Donegal ahead with two minutes to go
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-28 Donegal 2-22
Ethan Rafferty converts a two-point free from 45 yards out and that's a massive reply from the Armagh goalkeeper
KEY EVENT
Goal! Armagh 0-26 Donegal 2-22
Donegal strike for their second goal as Ciaran Thompson and Michael Langan set up Ciaran Moore for an excellent goal!
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-26 Donegal 1-22
Armagh retake the lead on the restart as Stefan Campbell fires over his third after a great chip-up
KEY EVENT
Half-time in extra-time: Armagh 0-25 Donegal 1-22
Niall O'Donnell brings the sides level again with a great point after the hooter.
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-25 Donegal 1-21
Armagh lead again via Jason Duffy, who has his second point
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-24 Donegal 1-21
Connaire Mackin is booked for a foul on Conor O'Donnell and Paddy McBrearty, who is just on for Michael Murphy, converts to tie the game
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-24 Donegal 1-20
Jarly Og Burns kicks Armagh into the lead for the first time!
KEY EVENT
We're back under way
The first period of extra-time is under way!
KEY EVENT
Full-time: Armagh 0-23 Donegal 1-20
Peadar Mogan gives the ball away and Armagh break. . . the move ends with Oisin Conaty scoring a great point under pressure to force extra-time!
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-22 Donegal 1-20
Jason Duffy's fisted effort has just enough to carry the crossbar and it is a one-point game in Clones with four minutes remaining!
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-21 Donegal 1-20
Stefan Campbell scores his second point and Michael Langan is booked for a late challenge on the Armagh attacker
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-20 Donegal 1-20
Shaun Patton's restart goes all the way down to Oisin Gallen and he sets up Jason McGee for a great point. Donegal lead by three with 15 minutes remaining
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-20 Donegal 1-19
Donegal are called for a breach of the three-up rule and Armagh go for the two-pointer. Oisin O'Neill's kick is good!
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-18 Donegal 1-19
Conor Turbitt wins a great ball and sets up Oisin O'Neill for his fourth point
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-17 Donegal 1-19
Stefan Campbell is only on the pitch a matter of seconds, but he scores a point from play with his first touch!
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-16 Donegal 1-19
Oisin Conaty scores his fifth of the game after good work from Conor Turbitt
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-15 Donegal 1-19
Donegal take a seven-point lead for the second time in the game as Ciaran Moore scores with 50 minutes gone
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-15 Donegal 1-18
Armagh miss another goal chance as Ben Crealey hits the post! Donegal go down the pitch with Conor O'Donnell scoring a point from play
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-15 Donegal 1-17
Michael Murphy tags on another point moments after Darragh McMullen fires wide when through on goal for Armagh
KEY EVENT
Goal! Armagh 0-15 Donegal 1-16
Hugh McFadden scores a vital goal for Donegal! Conor O'Donnell was stripped of possession, but McFadden curled the ball into the roof of the net beyond the reach of Ethan Rafferty!
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-15 Donegal 0-16
Oisin O'Neill moves to 0-4 for the day before Rory Grugan sets up Ross McQuillan for his third
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-13 Donegal 0-16
Peadar Mogan lands a great score after Caolan McGonigle fists Ethan Rafferty's kickout back in his direction
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-13 Donegal 0-15
Barry McCambridge is fouled but advantage is played as Callum O'Neill fires over a great point when off balance and the gap is down to two points after 40 minutes
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-12 Donegal 0-15
Oisin Conaty lands his fourth point from play, but seems to have picked up a bit of knock after running into Ciaran Thompson
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-11 Donegal 0-15
Michael Murphy curls over a great point on the restart
KEY EVENT
We're back under way!
There are no change on either team for the second half
KEY EVENT
Half-time: Armagh 0-11 Donegal 0-14
Oisin O'Neill has another two-point effort on the cusp of half-time following great work from Oisin Conaty and Ross McQuillan. However, Shaun Patton's touch downgrades the score to one. Donegal lead by three at half-time
Paddy Tierney
Armagh 0-10 Donegal 0-14
Oisin O'Neill lands a two-pointer and that might be a huge score for the All-Ireland champions
