
All Ireland Final fever grips Donegal as county shows its pride in green and gold
And with just two short weeks to prepare, every corner of the county has exploded with All Ireland fever.
Roadsides are drenched in green and gold, flags hang from every gable, bunting criss-crosses town streets, and even the sheep are sprayed for Sam.
Murals have been updated, songs have been written, poems recited, and more than a few prayers whispered.
In Glenties, the home of Donegal legend Jim McGuinness, cardboard cut outs of the team and backroom staff are hung from every lamp post, while in Letterkenny, the Polestar Roundabout has been illuminated in green and gold.
In Buncrana, the latest mural by Tuath Nua caused a stir after locals made their feelings clear; 'Donegal for Sam, Kerry for Butter', while hillsides have been marked with 'Sam for the Hills' in Glengesh.
A trio of Donegal men went one step further than anyone else and took themselves off to Kerry and planted Donegal flags in Killarney and the Kerry GAA Centre of Excellence; it was for a good cause and the Kerry supporters seemed to take it in good humour.
Even the gardaí got in on the craic with Donegal's Chief Superintendent Goretti Sheridan, presenting Sergeant Maurice Doyle, a Kerry man stationed in Donegal, with a Kerry teacup.
And while all roads lead to Croke Park on Sunday, the lads from Red Hughs; Darragh McMenamin, Cathair Browne, Ronan McLaughlin, Cathal McMenamin, Cathal and James Doherty and Tom McMenamin are aiming to get there in style.
The young men have turned a Citroen into the 'Jim Mobile' customised in the county colours and featuring Donegal panel members Stephen McMenamin, Jonny Carlin, and Tommy Devine.
Unfortunately, there has been an almighty scramble for tickets with just over 13,000 tickets allocated resulting in many fans being left disappointed but thanks to hand working volunteers and sponsors, towns and villages across the county have opted to show the game on the big screen.
Family days out are planned in Ballybofey, Donegal Town and Killybegs while every pub, restaurant and home in the county will be watching the game.
The craic is set to be mighty.
And win or lose, this Donegal team has given the county a summer to remember.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
6 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
‘It's been a privilege' – Emotional Hannah Tyrrell reflects on Dublin LGFA career before All-Ireland final swansong
HANNAH TYRRELL has been slowly bracing herself through a week of lasts with Dublin. The final training session is over and regardless of the result in today's All-Ireland final against Meath, she will wave goodbye to inter-county football . Advertisement 4 Pictured is Dublin Footballer and Former Irish Rugby International Hannah Tyrrell ahead of the 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Kansas State University & Iowa State University this August Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile 4 She will play her final game for Dublin in the All-Ireland final against Meath Credit: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile 4 Tyrrell, right, also played for Ireland in rugby Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile The Na Fianna star has come a long way since her Dubs debut in 2013. Previously an But she said farewell to rugby in 2021 and her long-waited reality . Tyrrell helped the Jackies win the 2023 All-Ireland and capped it with a star performance in their final win over Advertisement Read More on LGFA She turns 35 next week and still leads the charge as the Sky Blues chase their seventh Brendan Martin Cup. Tyrrell's But at the start of the campaign, she knew this was it. Very few get the fairytale ending, and what will be will be against the Royals at Croke Park . Advertisement Most read in GAA Football Tyrrell told SunSport: 'Yeah, I'm trying not to think about it to be honest, and I don't know if I will. 'Like, obviously it'll be, you know . . . the last training session, regardless of the outcome of the match, will be a difficult one after so long. 'Aged like milk on a windowsill in July' - Watch BBC's GAA pundits ALL predict Donegal to beat Kerry 'But it's also a really enjoyable one. You know, my last involvement could have been that kick of a ball against Galway in normal time. I think maybe just the training session, 'You know? That's my last training session', particularly with someone like Sinéad Goldrick, who I've played with from Under-14 all the way up. So we've known each other for 20 years or so. 'That'll be just that for me, walking away from that, but there's so many new opportunities out there. Advertisement 'Like I said, I'm lucky enough to have gotten to wear this Dublin jersey for so long. And it's been such a privilege. 'I got an opportunity to play with Dublin for another couple of weeks and get to play in the best stadium in the world, in my opinion , for my last-ever game — which is amazing.' Dublin's season came with an air of unfinished business . MICK IN THE TEETH Mick Bohan left as boss after their All-Ireland semi-final loss to Galway last summer . Advertisement The Clontarf man spent eight years in charge during a glittering second stint in the hotseat which saw them win five All-Ireland titles and four in a row from 2017 to 2020. Paul Casey and Derek Murray took over as joint-managers and have led them straight back to the biggest day — and Tyrrell admits hurt is always a silent motivator, personally and for the squad. She said: 'I think there's hunger in the camp every year — it's the reason why we come back and want to play. 'But after last year I think it was more the manner of the defeat to Galway, and how we were very disappointed in how we performed, it kind of brought a lot of us back, we didn't want it to end on that. 'I'm just enjoying the process and the moment. I decided on it last year that this was a definite, and why not go again and really enjoy my football this year? Advertisement 'I think there's multiple factors that go with that. I think fitness-wise and physically, I'm in a really good place this year. 'I probably didn't feel up to my best last year and just hit some new heights in the training ground. And there's a good atmosphere in the team and training and all the rest that just feels really nice and I'm really enjoying it. 'I think I'm playing pretty well. I'm just happy it's all working out but we have nothing won yet and there's one more big game to go.' 4 Hannah Tyrrell of St Patrick's CYFC during the FAI Womens Amateur Shield Final in 2023 Credit: Tom Beary/Sportsfile Advertisement Tyrrell is all about today, but will soon think ahead to tomorrow. Unless there is a replay, her inter-county door will close tonight and a new chapter will begin with her wife Sorcha and their daughter Aoife. Sport will always be there but it is time to give back to her family as a new adventure begins. She added: 'Of course, there are obviously things I'll be able to do when football is over and I'm a lot less restricted. I'll be able to go off on holidays and enjoy my free time with my family. And they're the ones who have kind of given up and sacrificed to allow me to go off and play football. So it's just about being able to spend time with them and enjoy the other things that life has to offer. Advertisement 'I'll go off and play a bit of social sports somewhere else and, you know, just enjoy time with friends and make some memories off the pitch. 'I'm one of the lucky few, though. Lots and lots of people would love to play for Dublin, let alone get to play in a couple of All-Ireland finals with them. So I'm very privileged. 'And that's why I work so hard to try and produce it on the field and bring a bit of joy back to this beautiful county.' l DUBLIN footballer and ex-Ireland rugby International Hannah Tyrrell was speaking ahead of the 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Kansas State University and Iowa State University, which will take place on August 23 at the Aviva Stadium. There are limited tickets available at www. ticketmaster .ie/collegefootball. Advertisement


Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Joe Brolly: We might have to limit David Clifford to only playing one half in games
In the All-Ireland final, he had possession for a total of 43 seconds and scored 0-9 from play. In the semi-final it was only 1-9. He scored 8-62 (86 points) in this championship season. This is more than any player in the Donegal squad has scored in their entire career save for Michael Murphy who managed 9-312 in 17 seasons (2007-2025, with two years out) and Paddy McBrearty in 15 seasons (2011-2025).


Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Five things we learned from the Lions' series win over the Wallabies
On the whistle A penny for the thoughts of match officials, a community that takes an enforced vow of silence, foisted on them by world Rugby. This series reminded everyone that it is impossible to get uniformity when it comes to some of rugby's laws. Putting aside the large dose of subjectivity that infected the debate around 'Ruck-gate,' in the second Test, and the advocacy for penalty or no penalty, none of World Rugby, supporters, players, former players, media and pundits were able (or in some cases willing) to adjudicate clearly, and say definitely and publicly what the correct decision should have been in Jac Morgan's clear-out of Carlo Tizzano. The reason? They can't. Too often the breakdown's a lottery. The officiating in the third Test was very poor. Too many cheap shots allowed to go unpunished. Way too lax, especially in the conditions. Collectively weak from the officials. Who is Ireland's greatest ever Lion? Listen | 26:49 Player welfare Garry Ringrose's decision to speak up when he found himself unable to shake off concussive after effects struck the right sort of blow for the future wellbeing of a sport. It also served as a reminder that for all the protocols in place around brain injury and head trauma, unless the players are willing to be forthright in communicating how they feel in the wake of such incidents, there will remain a grey area surrounding the return to play protocols. It's not an exact science and should never be regarded as such, but that advocacy has to come from those who experience the symptoms. Slogans like 'when in doubt, sit them out' push the right policy, but the players have to play a part. Garry Ringrose during the Lions' game against the First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho It took courage for Ringrose to make his decision, the right one, and therefore miss out on fulfilling a childhood dream of playing in a Lions Test match, but his selfless act will hopefully encourage others to be similarly brave. Commander-in-chief Putting aside the relative strength or otherwise of rugby in Australia ahead of the three Tests, the series was hotly contested and Andy Farrell did a great job – despite watching his side lose the Third Test – and in the process reminded all of his standing as a coach. It has not always been an easy task on the basis that potshots were taken as to the number of Ireland/Leinster players in the squad, particularly when the injury-forced call-ups rolled in, but he consistently made informed decisions that had the desired and pivotal effect. Lions head coach Andy Farrell ahead of the Lions' final Test against the Wallabies in Sydney. Photograph: David Davies/PA Perhaps the most obvious one to focus on is in Farrell ignoring the flak about selecting Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry in the backrow for the first Test. Not only did they produce performances of rare quality in that match, but the former won player of the series, while Curry could only have been a fingernail behind. A favourite to lead the Lions in four years to New Zealand all things being equal in the interim. Forwards win matches The old rugby adage that 'forwards win matches and backs decide by how much,' was given further credence by this series. In the first Test, the Lions' pack dominated the collisions and the gainline for nearly two-thirds of the match, thereby allowing their halfbacks to boss the game and give the three-quarter line the perfect possession and position to play off that dominance. It was only when Australia got a foothold in the game physically following replacements on both sides that they were able to close the gap. Lions forwards Tadhg Beirne, Ben Earl and Tom Curry after the third Test against the Wallabies. Photograph:It was the reverse in the second Test as the Wallabies, with Rob Valetini and Will Skelton to the fore, won the contact battle and therefore were able to play off that front foot ball to great effect. Again, it was the bench, this time for the Lions, that turned the game in their favour, but unlike the Wallabies the previous week, they managed to find the winning line in the nick of time with Hugo Keenan's late try. In the third Test the Wallabies' pack won the match. Home-side pride Winning the third Test represents a huge shot in the arm for rugby in Australia and momentum that Joe Schmidt 's side can hopefully take into the Rugby Championship despite the short-term compromising travel logistics. Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt after Australia's win against the Lions in the final Test of the series. Photograph:The Wallabies were convincing winners in the final Test but it may inspire some frustration on their part that they let a winning position slip through their fingers in the second Test. How much of an edge being 2-0 up in the series took off the Lions' performance in Sydney will be a subject of debate but Australia deserve credit for the way in which they managed the conditions to not alone be physically dominant but also technically better in several facets of the game, notably the lineout, the breakdown and the kicking game. Schmidt has pulled together a squad that shows promise and ultimately one that Les Kiss will look to build on from November.