By Michael McMullan

THE last time there was a three-in-a-row in Ulster, Armagh were Kings.

It was Donegal who were looking up as Paul McGrane lifted the Anglo Celt Cup on the steps of the Hogan Stand.

The Orchard skipper’s goal was the difference in the 2006 final at HQ, a time when they had the upper hand on Donegal.

There was a chance for Donegal to repeat the feat in 2013 when they were reigning All-Ireland champions but they were undone by Monaghan.

Declan Bonner oversaw another back-to-back Ulster success and Donegal were odds on in 2020 until Cavan came, saw and conquered in Armagh.

The return of Jim McGuinness emphasised Donegal’s tunnel vision on their path to conquering Ulster. The All-Ireland race is important but always put on ice.

Getting the Anglo Celt Cup on the dashboard of the bus is the only thing that matters.

When the fixture calendar left seven days between the league final and Derry coming to Ballybofey last year, Donegal dropped the anchor. A league final was going to be a distraction.

It created debate but Donegal were 100 per cent right. Championship rules. It always has.

There was more freedom to get what they wanted to out of the league this season. McGuinness had a defined set of targets. Getting more players a taste of senior action was high on the list. Staying away from relegation was another.

Four wins turned into safety. Getting Jason McGee back in full flow was a big help. Hugh McFadden’s inclusion was another vital ingredient.

A look at the recent league final told the story of what has changed. McGee, McFadden, Michael Langan were backed up by Michael Murphy.

Gavin Mulreany has been pulled out to midfield on the opposition kick-outs during the league.

In the final, Mulreany played as a defender, with everyone else moving out a step.

Kerry will be a different animal when the championship kicks into gear. They always do. And Donegal will know that too.

Another interesting observation from the final was putting Caolan McColgan on David Clifford, allowing Brendan McCole to go across on Dylan Geaney.

It was almost a concession that Clifford was always going to score, regardless who will be on marking duties.

The other key marking arrangement against Kerry was perhaps the most telling, with u-20 player Max Campbell in at centre half-back on Seánie O’Shea. It was Campbell’s first-ever game at Croke Park.

Shea Malone has brought a goal threat. Conor McCahill is currently injured but, as a left-sided forward, will give McGuinness another option.

Donegal will host Down as they put their Ulster title on the line. With MacCumhaill Park out of bounds, the game will now take place in Letterkenny’s O’Donnell Park.

If their tag as Ulster champions didn’t make them considerable favourites, their easing past Kerry make Donegal even more fancied to make the step.

They’ll still remember how many questions Down asked them in Clones last year and how it took Armagh 70 minutes to shake them off the previous year.

Dáire Ó Baoill, Ciarán Thompson, McCahill, Shaun Patton and Ciarán Moore are all missing with various injuries.

Getting them back in contention will be important as the summer progresses.

One of the talking points is whether Patton will get back into the team when he returns.

That’s how impressive Mulreany has been and how valuable he is. Aside from being an excellent shot-stopper and having a cool temperament, his ability to kick off both feet opens up more avenues.

In an era when getting hands on the ball has never been more important, pressing up on the two-footed goalkeeper is much harder. That’s why Jack O’Connor will need Shane Ryan back in the number one jersey.

At first glance, going one better and winning Sam will be Donegal’s overall dreamland. For now, trotting out on Ulster final day will be the immediate bigger picture.

DONEGAL

Roll of honour:

12 (1972, 1974, 1983, 1990, 1992, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2024, 2025)

Memorable Ulster Championship match

Ulster Championship final 2025

Donegal 2-23 Armagh 0-28 AET

Sunday, May 11, 2025

IF Donegal and Armagh games are labelled as box office, then last year’s Ulster final has to be top billing. And that’s saying something. Goals from Ciarán Moore and Hugh McFadden were defining but Armagh just simply refused to go away. It was one of those games that gripped everyone lucky enough to be in Clones. In the end, it took Niall O’Donnell’s accuracy to swing the pendulum for the final time. Even after that, it was the calmness of Finnbarr Roarty and Stephen McMenamin in the final seconds who tipped the scales. They held the ball when Armagh hunted it down in a game of fine margins.

Wild card:

Shea Malone

LAST year it was Finnbarr Roarty who came from nowhere, developing into one of the best players in the country. Age didn’t matter. His Naomh Conaill teammate Shea Malone is someone Jim McGuinness has put faith in since calling him into the county mix. His awesome two-pointer to save the Glenties men in last year’s county final demonstrated his value when the chips were down. The Donegal attack is hard to break into but Malone’s eye for goal is worth so much. Imagine him coming in when the game is in the balance. He will also ramp up the competition in training.

Joint captains:

Shane O’Donnell and Michael Langan

IN the absence of Patrick McBrearty, Jim McGuinness has put his faith in two men to lead their charge for championship honours. Michael Langan is the two-point threat that leave them difficult to defend against. Shane O’Donnell is the man who keeps running, keeps showing for the ball and then keeps on running some more. One of the main ingredients of a captain is leading by actions as much as words. Langan and O’Donnell tick that box with plenty to spare.

Manager:

Jim McGuinness

McGUINNESS has been at the heart of the latest surge of Donegal success and it is in year three of his second coming as manager. His body language told a lot of the value he placed in beating Kerry in the recent league final. It will hold little, if any, value if the sides lock horns later in the summer. The main ingredient has been how he has fused in young players like Shea Malone, Max Campbell and Conor McCahill. His most telling decision was putting Caolan McColgan on David Clifford. Road testing certain players during the league will leave the squad more competitive.