09-05-2025
Donegal and Armagh ignoring peaks and troughs
Preordained but no less important – familiar foes Armagh and Donegal will battle it out for supremacy in the Ulster Ladies SFC final at Clones on Saturday afternoon and it still means everything.
As the only two teams in the competition, as has been the case in recent times, this decider was penned in before a ball was even kicked in anger, but that does ensure the latest instalment in what has been quite a storied rivalry.
So often clashes occur when one team is in a peak and the other in a trough, and that again will be the case with the Orchard County coming off the back of a Division 1 final defeat to Kerry while Donegal, managed by former Armagh boss James Daly, were unable to make it out of Division 2.
Armagh carry strong favouritism into St Tiernach's Park, but that was the case in 2023 when they were expected to sweep to a fourth title in a row but were thwarted in Owenbeg.
It was also the case last year when Armagh needed extra-time to come out on top, so you can take Blaithin Mackin's word when she says they're taking nothing for granted.
"Any final you're in you want to win and obviously Ulster's massive. I know in my first four or five years we went to Ulster finals and we were getting beat by 20, 30 points so this group doesn't take it for granted how hard Ulster is to win.
"We know last year it was really tough, and the year before we obviously got beat by Donegal, so yeah we don't take Ulster for granted but again, to do it in front of hopefully a big crowd would be even better, and I'm sure both teams are thinking that."
For Tir Chonaill breakout defender Abigail Temple Asokuh, who has excelled in her three seasons on the panel, their performances in recent finals gives them hope ahead for the undercard of a double-header between the two counties with the men's teams to meet for the Anglo Celt directly after.
"I think last year we showed them that we could keep up with them.
"There's definitely a big rivalry there. Even before I came in, it's always been like that, which is great. Great competition and two great teams and with the All-Stars involved."
Both players are prioritising Gaelic football right now but have huge talent in other sports.
Temple Asokuh is a fine soccer player, no surprise when you consider her father Eloka 'Luca' Asokuh has an Under-17 World Cup winning medal to his name having helped Nigeria claim the crown in 1993 with the team spearheaded by a certain Nwankwo Kanu.
Mackin also has enjoyed prominence away from the Gaelic field having played a key role as Melbourne claimed the 2022 AFLW Grand Final.
When Armagh's season ends, and the player hopes that will be a while away yet, she will return to Australia.
"I'm very lucky all of my ones have made the trip over, it's a really nice place, the people are very good to me over there, the Australians, but yeah when your family's not there - once the family are over it's really good, but you're a long way from home so that's the only tricky side to it.
"The professional sporting athlete, whatever you want to call it, that lifestyle is really nice and you just get so much time to look after your body and look after yourself and prepare for the next training session, prepare for the next game whereas obviously at home you're working half nine the next day."
Mackin will be one of four siblings chasing Ulster medals this weekend, with brother Connaire a key player for Kieran McGeeney's side, although injury rules out Aimee and Ciaran.
Whatever the outcome, this Ulster rivalry is set for another significant chapter – especially with the closing stages likely to be played out in front of nearly 30,000 people.
"It's going to be great to have the two games in one day at Clones, but it's a matter of the people wanting to go and watch these ladies," added Temple Asokuh.
"We are just as good. We have amazing players across the whole country and some are probably better than some of the men to be honest. It's just a case of getting people out to these games and showing them how good we are."
