All-Ireland Final: Fans confident 'Big Jim' can do it again for Donegal

BBC News

26-07-2025

Donegal fans say excitement has reached fever pitch in the county as they predict a win over Kerry in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final on Sunday.Geraldine McDermott and her family have attended every Donegal match this year but still haven't been able to get tickets for the weekend."That's the big issue at the moment. I think a lot of people are in the same boat," she told BBC News NI."Seven of us, including our children, have gone to every single match, and as of yet, we've no tickets. That's taken away from the excitement a bit because, obviously, there'll be a lot of disappointed people who can't get to the match."
Several hundred fans gathered at St Aengus Primary School in Bridgend, just across the border from Londonderry, to erect a huge poster in support of Donegal star Oisín Gallen, who teaches at the school.Liam Gallagher, the chairman of Burt GAA Club as well as the school, said everyone is very proud of him."We want to wish him the best for the final," he said.There's been a huge turnout to offer massive support to Oisín and the team."They've done Donegal proud."Donegal take on Kerry in the final at 15:30 local time on Sunday, hoping to claim their third All-Ireland title.Young fans waving flags, banners, and posters in Bridgend were very confident of a Donegal victory.Molly said: "I think they are gonna win, and hopefully we get tickets."Her friend Grace agreed."I think they've played really well, and I think they are going to win the All-Ireland final," she said.Another young fan, also called Grace, said "there may be some ups and downs" on Sunday, but she was confident her county would come out on top.
In Strabane, County Tyrone, at the O'Neill's factory, Donal Kelly and his son Junior and daughter Lilly, from Pettigo in County Donegal, had dropped in to buy jerseys in time for the final.Lilly confidently predicted a Donegal win."I think they'll win too," her brother added."They are brilliant, and they are hammering every team."In Glenties, where the family of team manager Jim McGuinness have a café, his mother Maureen reflected on the success of the squad so far this season.She has been to all the matches and enjoys the live atmosphere—especially at Croke Park.She said her son, who has lifted the Sam Maguire with Donegal both as a player and a manager, had always shown great passion for the sport."I always knew he had a great drive in him to do better," she said.She added that he would be keeping his head down and "telling her nothing" ahead of the Croke Park showpiece.
In the county's largest town Letterkenny, music students at the Community Inclusion Hub made a special video called "Big Jim's Gonna Do It Again!"The centre works with adults aged 18 to 65 with intellectual disabilities.Spokesperson Fionn Robinson said everyone was delighted with how the video had turned out."The tune is so catchy and has a real feel-good energy to it, and the video is fun as well," he said."It's magic, really, and its been lovely to see some of the service users, local clubs, as well as family and friends, sharing the video and showing their appreciation."We're all hoping Jim and the boys will hear the song and it'll inspire them to bring Sam home to the hills."The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final is live on BBC Two NI, the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website from 15:00.