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Irish Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Donegal v Tyrone TV info, throw-in time, date and more for All-Ireland clash
The second week of the All-Ireland Championship begins this weekend, with counties looking to match the early momentum set by the pace-setters. Group 1 sees Donegal face Tyrone in MacCumhaill Park in a mini-Ulster championship clash. Donegal will hope to back up their status as contenders in Ballybofey, however they may be with Shaun Patton, who picked up an injury last time out. Tyrone are aiming to build on their showing in the Ulster Championship where they lost by the minimum against Armagh. Here's everything you need to know about the match: The game takes place on Saturday, May 24. MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey will host the clash. The action gets under way at 7pm. Unfortunately the game is not being broadcast on TV, but you can catch it on GAA+. Donegal win: 4/7 Draw: 8/1 Tyrone win: 9/5
The 42
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
The provincial system may be wretched but it sure can howl
HOW DO YOU think they will remember the 2025 Ulster final? The first one played under the new playing rules. The one where Michael Murphy came out of retirement for one Last Dance and picked up his fourth provincial title. The third Ulster final in a row that went to extra-time. The third in a row that Armagh lost. The one where Shaun Patton's fingertips to an Oisín O'Neill short turned it from a two-point score to a single. The one where the two teams produced a performance of rare excellence and shooting. The one where both management teams had to think on their feet, recycling tired bodies, making multiple substitutions. The one when the Ulster Council fixed the game for a 5.25pm throw-in, leaving all day for the youngsters to turn the old railway pitstop of Clones into a lurid, throbbing party town. The one when Niall O'Donnell scored the winner, just as he scored equalisers last year that didn't allow Armagh off the hook. The one where Shaun Patton caught Ethan Rafferty's kickout. The one where Ethan Rafferty caught Shaun Patton's kickouts. The one where wily old campaigner Hugh McFadden found a ball bobbling towards him and swung a powerful right boot at it that Gabriel Batistuta would have admired as it bulged the net. The one where Ciaran Moore was playing, was taken off, was put back on again and found himself free to crash in Donegal's second goal. The one where Ryan McHugh was detailed in a marking job on Rory Grugan, thereby negating the Armagh mainframe. The one where Donegal hit two goals, while Armagh hit two posts, the second that rolled across the face of goal. Advertisement The one where 28,788 turned up on a burning evening. The one where the Garda Síochána had to separate the players of both teams as they got involved in a punching match at the final whistle. Tempers flare at the final whistle. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO The one where Rian O'Neill fetched up in an Armagh tracksuit again, having been absent since the All-Ireland final last year. We don't know what you might take from it. And in less than seven days, the games begin for the 2025 All-Ireland football championship. Perhaps by then, the provincial championships might not matter as much. Or at all. But after a fortnight that featured a juicy Connacht final, an epic Ulster and a Leinster final with more spice that your local Bajee Palace coming later today, perhaps it's nice to take some value from your provincial titles. Donegal celebrate these things like they are just bring an end to 100 years of famine. They whoop and they holler and their supporters are straw-hatted country-music loving workboot-wearing yahoos determined to wring every last ounce out of the day. There was a time, back in 2010, that Tyrone strolled to an Ulster final win over Monaghan. That day, Brian Dooher lifted the cup and St Tiernach's Park was practically empty, with just two Tyrone fans on the pitch. You cannot imagine that happening now. 'They're all very unique. They're all very, very unique and they're all as special, you know, as the next one, to be honest with you,' said Jim McGuinness afterwards. 'And you know, you've a packed house out there and the sun's shining. And, you know, we all travelled to Ulster Finals as children. And that's the moment. The house is full and the sun is shining. 'And somebody's going to win and somebody, unfortunately, is not going to win. And we had a lot of days against Armagh, in many respects, where we were out the wrong side of it. A lot of days I played in Ulster Finals. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO 'So they're very, very special. They're very, very special. And we will enjoy tonight and enjoy that with our families and everything else. And refocus then as quickly as we can because another competition is going to start now. 'But we're not talking much about that tonight. Just proud of them tonight. Proud of the way they went about it and kept going to the very end. And they're entitled to celebrate.' There are arguments made that the greatest game of Gaelic football in Ulster was played between Derry and Down in Celtic Park in 1994. In the days of a straight knockout, there was everything on the line that day and Derry lost their All-Ireland and Ulster crowns to Down, who went on to win both. But watch that game back and have a think to yourself. Every single ball was contested with a manic determination that took away from the football. At one stage the ball was drifting over a sideline when DJ Kane hoofed it as far as he could into the crowd. Because it was nearly more important to win the race to the ball, rather than protect it. In 30 years of watching Ulster football, we cannot recall anything quite like it. The quality of score-taking, the control of the ball, how every kickout was an act of utter theatre. 'Well, for me, the Ulster Championship and the Munster Hurling Championship are just on a par. They bring so much. They ignite so much within people. It's crazy,' said McGuinness. '…I think the provincials are in a good place. I think there's a lot of people, for whatever reason, talking them down or had been talking them down. But maybe that narrative will change on the back of this season because that was a serious competition in all provinces this year. 'And for us, we're just thankful. We're delighted. We're thankful. And we'll travel down the road now and enjoy the evening with our supporters.' In the other corner, feeling very differently, is Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney. Kieran McGeeney. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO He's been here before. Last year, the year before. He knows how it goes. 'It's always tough when you get beat, so what do you do? That's part and parcel of sport, you just have to keep going,' he says. Last year, the team chose to go to Lurgan for a day or two on the beer. They pulled even closer in to each other, and went on to win an All-Ireland. In the group stages, where they will be in with Galway, Dublin and Derry, they will have a significant addition to the squad in Rian O'Neill. Would you write them off? It's fair to say that these two teams hate each other. It's fair to say too, that's the element that makes this rivalry compelling. The provincial system may not be perfect. But it sure can howl.
Irish Times
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Shaun Patton and Ethan Rafferty make mockery of goalkeeper obituary writers, with both men key to Ulster final hopes
They are the gods in the new machine. The glitches in the FRC -designed matrix. Everyone you talk to says the kick-out is a crap-shoot in football now, with no more science to it than closing your eyes on Grand National morning and throwing a dart at the newspaper. By all accounts, you may as well do the lotto as waste time war-gaming how your goalkeepers go about their restarts. If that's true, nobody has told Shaun Patton or Ethan Rafferty. The Ulster final will see the two best kick-out merchants in the game facing off in Clones, with neither of them willing to accept that the earth is flat. Against Tyrone in the semi-final, Rafferty only lost one kick-out all day in a one-point Armagh victory. Against Monaghan in the quarter-final, Patton's second-half display into the teeth of the Clones wind was just as crucial for Donegal . Neither team would be in the final without their number ones. READ MORE Though it only seems five minutes ago since sad laments were being written for the demise of the poor goalie, in reality they have never been more relevant. Donegal have scored two goals in the Ulster championship – one direct from a Patton kick-out against Down, one direct from hunting down Neil McNicholl's kick-out against Derry. On the other side, Rafferty has the added layer of being a key part of the Armagh attack. When Jarly Óg Burns went down injured late on against Tyrone, the Armagh physio dragged him back five metres over the halfway line so that Rafferty could get up and join the play without breaching the 4v3. Twenty seconds later, Rafferty gave the penultimate pass before Conor Turbitt was fouled for the winning free. He's going to try to get Donegal away with a short one when it's really needed — Oisín McConville So their influence on Saturday's final will be enormous, mostly because neither Armagh nor Donegal have accepted the notion that the goalkeeper is a diminished factor under the new rules. Donegal's toughest game so far was against Monaghan, where they came out for the second half with a six-point lead to defend against the wind. Patton had 13 kick-outs in that second half and found his man with nine of them. Seven set up attacks that ended with shots at the post. Four led to points at the other end. After Micheál Bannigan's two-pointer brought Monaghan back to within a point in the 44th minute, Patton found his man with six of the next seven kick-outs. His accuracy off the tee killed the home side's momentum at exactly the time when the crowd were looking for Monaghan to pen Donegal in. Instead, Jim McGuinness's side didn't give up possession from a kick-out for a full 25 minutes. Armagh goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty gave a masterclass in accuracy in the Ulster SFC semi-final against Monaghan. Photograph: John McVitty/Inpho What was really noticeable was the fact that all but one of his second-half kick-outs were won under no pressure. It wasn't a case of Donegal scavenging for the breaks out in the midfield jungle and coming away with possession through pure hunger. Instead, they routinely and methodically got a man free – short-range, mid-range and long-range, left, right and straight down the centre. Patton was fantastic that day but he wasn't working alone. 'Obviously Shaun is the most important part of that puzzle,' said Jim McGuinness afterwards. 'But it's the opportunities and the options that present themselves as well. That's on the team. [ Darragh Ó Sé: Donegal and Armagh won't come up short like Mayo did in their use of the new rules Opens in new window ] [ Louth boss Ger Brennan declares neutrality but admits his players cheered Meath on in semi-final against Dublin Opens in new window ] 'It's important that the team understands that, that they put themselves in positions where they can present for the ball. And then it's up to him to be able to scan the pitch and understand that and make a really good decision. We're delighted with that part.' Rafferty's performance against Tyrone was pretty much a one-man rebuke to the idea that every kick-out has to be a lottery now. He had 24 kicks off the tee a fortnight ago and found his man with 23 of them. It seems inconceivable that we'll see those numbers repeated over the rest of the championship. The Armagh goalkeeper's dispersion didn't have the same variation as his Donegal counterpart. His go-to kick-out is either short- or mid-range to the right sideline with his left instep and it's probably damning of Tyrone's press that he got so many of them away untroubled. But it was still an extraordinary afternoon's work – by his outfielders as much as by him. 'Both of them leave you with a decision to make,' says Oisín McConville, the former Armagh player and current Wicklow manager. 'Do you really want to press up incredibly aggressively against Patton when he can just hit you over the top? 'You saw Down do it in the semi-final – they were really brave and positive but then all it took was one high press and Patton cleared them all. Next thing you know the ball was in the net at the other end. 'That's the thing with both of them. They're both so confident over the ball. If you're a young goalkeeper in the championship, there's no way you're chancing anything short. Even Connor Gleeson last week against Mayo, he was basically going long with everything. He wasn't taking any chances. 'But Patton is established, confident, can hit any type of kick-out. He's going to try to get Donegal away with a short one when it's really needed. Especially if they've lost a couple in a row and really need possession – he's willing to back himself to take a chance. Same with Rafferty, who has that precision and direction and can hit it pinpoint into somebody's chest at speed. Not many teams have that.' The two who do are going face to face in Clones, where every kick-out will be an event in itself. Buckle up.
Irish Examiner
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Intrigue aplenty, but make no mistake, the ball will be the boss in Clones
It's hard to make a case for anything else but a game of fine margins on Saturday evening in Ulster's Mecca. Forget the road to Croker. Forget Sam Maguire. What Kerry, Dublin and Galway will come with later in 2025 won't matter. Clones is about the here and now. 'They have the cup we want and we have the one they want,' said Armagh All-Ireland final goal scorer Aaron McKay last week. When Shaun Patton smothered Shane McPartlan's sudden death penalty, the Anglo Celt Cup was heading for the hills. Similarly, Joe McElroy's All-Ireland final block was another indicator that Armagh refused to be denied. Donegal are the epitome of efficiency. That's why their semi-final loss to Galway hurt so much. They misfired when the stakes were highest. On the flipside, Armagh have morphed from a team who couldn't see out tight games to a galvanised group who can now find their second breath. Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton saves a penalty by Shane McPartlan of Armagh. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Take Ross McQuillan's tackle on Darragh Canavan in the dying embers of last month's semi-final win. A foul and Tyrone go two up. Out the gap. McQuillan was bang on. To the very inch and when Armagh transitioned, Stefan Campbell levelled matters before fellow impact man Conor Turbitt drew the free to book their place in Clones. Another tight corner they stepped out of. To the untrained eye, Armagh's turning point was their semi-final win over Kerry in HQ last summer. And it was, but McKay digs deeper, putting it down to the build-up. In the days before, Armagh's second string 'whacked' the first team by the region of 10 points. His first thought was how the hell were they going to cope with Kerry? Then McKay got thinking. Armagh's men around the edges brought real quality when stepping over the whitewash. 'There was no way Kerry were going to have the same impact we were going to have, in terms of boys coming on, fresh legged,' McKay said. Campbell kicked two points. McQuillan stretched their lead to three in extra-time. Turbitt returned to the action as the insurance. Even goal scorer Barry McCambridge had only got into the team after an injury to Ciaran Mackin at training during the group stages. Back to Donegal. When Eoghan Bán Gallagher was forced off last year in their semi-final exit to Galway, Jim McGuinness had his hand tied behind his back. Shane O'Donnell, their transitional animal in the middle third, was forced to plug Gallagher's ball-carrying role from defence. A case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Yes, the Galway goal was fortunate. Had Oisín Gallen not pulled a routine free, it could've been the tipping point. Below that, a winter of reflection told Donegal they were short a couple of jigsaw pieces. Finnbarr Roarty has stepped into the defence. Inexperienced? Yes, but he fits the system. Odhrán McFadden Ferry has returned. Behind their defence, much has been made of Shaun Patton's kicking, but he's a more imposing version in 2025. Whatever sermon James Gallagher has been preaching, the odd spill has evaporated. Another one percenter. 'Shaun's been phenomenal,' stresses backup 'keeper Gavin Mulreany. 'Him (Patton) and James Gallagher, they have brought me to a new level/ 'Shaun's our number one. If we're going to go win things, we need Shaun on the field.' Hugh McFadden has trimmed down and slotted in when Langan and McGee were on the treatment table. Then you have Michael Murphy. He sucks defenders to him and not even his own markers. It buys other forwards half a yard. The three goal chances he made against Derry in a league in Ballyshannon were lost on McGuinness. Murphy made everything simple. He'd always take the right option. That's what top dogs do. Then you have Murphy the kick-out target. No sooner had Dan Higgins bagged Derry's goal in the championship, Patton had the ball on the tee and boomed it to Murphy. A rocket of a kick and Conor O'Donnell's point doused any trace of Oakleaf enthusiasm. Rewind to Patrick McBrearty's goal against Down. It was Patton's overcooked kick to Murphy. While Gallen hoovered up the break to begin the precise move for the goal, Murphy was the target. It was the one time Down didn't have a bouncer on the door at the back of midfield. Costly. Conor Laverty said as much. Armagh will have taken note of it too. Elsewhere, they won't have missed how Down kept the all out of Donegal's spider's web in defence. Without turnovers, their transition monsters don't maraud as often. Men like Mogan. Men like McHugh. That's why the kick-outs today will write most of the script. The ball is the boss. Armagh did have the composure to see off Tyrone, but Ethan Rafferty's kick-out variation was the reason the Red Hands were chasing. Today could be the day for a Donegal wall across St Tiernach's Park. Will their listed team be a smokescreen or will they hammer Armagh's hammer? That's the intrigue. Imagine Ethan Rafferty on a kick-out, looking out at Michael Langan, Ciarán Thompson and Murphy. Maybe add Hugh McFadden and Jason McGee to that equation. Ciarán Moore and Dáire Ó Baoill are well able to compete too. It's hard to imagine Donegal not putting at least half their eggs in the basket of flustering Rafferty. If only the fence in Convoy could talk. McKay is right. Donegal want Sam and Armagh have unfinished Ulster business. While it could be a game decided on what a Jamie Brennan or a Stefan Campbell add to the part, it's all about the ball. Possession is always King. The Clones middle third could be a battleground. The neutrals will hope it is. For Armagh and Donegal fans, they'll have the rosary beads out. A game of inches. Penalties anyone? Either way, there will be plenty of eyes on Patton and Rafferty. Who blinks first?
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What channel is Armagh vs Donegal on? Live stream and TV, betting odds and all you need to know ahead of Ulster SFC final
For the second year running, Armagh and Donegal clash in the final of the Ulster Senior Football Championship. Donegal are the defending champions after beating Armagh on penalties last season with Shaun Patton making the title-winning save from Shane McPartlan. The Orchard County regrouped and finished the season with the biggest prize of all and are the reigning All-Ireland senior champions. READ MORE: Armagh vs Donegal: Ticket information for 2025 Ulster SFC Final showdown in Clones READ MORE: Mayo vs Galway LIVE score updates from Connacht senior football final Armagh haven't lifted the Anglo-Celt Cup since 2008 and were also beaten by Derry on penalties in 2023. They'll not need any extra incentive to try to defeat Donegal, but the All-Ireland SFC draw, arguably, gives the losers of the final a tougher run of games in the group stage. The winners join Mayo, Tyrone and Cavan in Group One while the losers go into Group Four with Galway, Dublin and Derry in the so-called 'Group of Death'. This year's Ulster SFC final will be played as part of a double-header with the Ulster Ladies final, which also features Armagh and Donegal. Here's all the information you need to know ahead of this weekend's Ulster SFC final. . . Armagh vs Donegal is on Saturday, May 10 at St Tiernach's Park, Clones. Saturday's game starts at 5.25pm while the Ladies final throws in at 3pm. Saturday' game is being broadcast live on RTÉ2 and on BBC2 NI. Belfast Live Sport will be live blogging all the action from the Ulster final. Armagh 11/10 Draw 8/1 Donegal 10/11 Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox
