By Michael McMullan JIM McGuinness has named the same team from the Ulster final for Saturday’s visit of Tyrone. The Ulster champions host the Red Hands in a repeat last year’s All-Ireland opener (Ballybofey, 7pm) There is a return of Eoghan Bán Gallagher after injury ruled the Killybegs man out since their league win over […]
Gallen happy to fight for his spot
May 23, 2025
BY RYAN FERRY OISÍN Gallen hopes Donegal will continue to employ a kicking game ahead of their All-Ireland group stage opener against Tyrone this Saturday. Gallen was named as the All Star full-forward last season and had a great year in the green and gold. However, you could have counted on one hand the number […]
KEVIN CASSIDY: It’s open season
May 22, 2025
BEFORE Donegal and Tyrone have even kicked a ball in the All-Ireland series, it has been blown wide open. Last weekend’s result in Castlebar now means that anything is possible in this group and we could see one of the big guns exit the competition a lot earlier than they would have wanted. Let’s just […]
Barrett basks in the magic of another Clones cauldron
May 15, 2025
By Michael McMullan THERE isn’t room to swing a cat in the Clones tunnel, but you can see the wide smile Donegal coach Luke Barrett wears as he steps his way through the crowds. In a feature interview with Gaelic Life earlier in the year, he spoke about growing up and watching the teams’ buses […]
KEVIN CASSIDY: A final for the ages
May 15, 2025
AS I sit down to write this week’s piece, I’m struggling in that I actually don’t know where to begin. I think I can speak for most when I say that was probably one of the best Ulster finals we have ever witnessed. If I’m being 100 per cent honest towards the end of the […]
McGuinness’ extra ingredients in key moments
May 15, 2025
By Michael McMullan AS Saturday’s Ulster final ticked into the final seconds of extra-time, Jim McGuinness could only look on. His hands were tied. It was down to the players. All his cards were on the table. After a glance at the clock, he fixed his eyes on Stephen McMenamin and Finnbarr Roarty as they […]
Youngest gun Roarty delivers in late Clones pressure cooker
May 14, 2025
By Michael McMullan EVERY set of eyes on Clones were locked in on Finnbarr Roarty as the seconds of extra-time ticked away. A true definition of championship white heat. Nothing prepares you for this. The ball was precious. Keeping it was even more so. Donegal are one point up. Roarty is the youngest player on […]
The outside world can wait: The sights and twists of a super Saturday in Clones
May 14, 2025
For the fourth year in a row, the Ulster final served up extra-time as Donegal and Armagh stood tall all the way to the last second. Michael McMullan took a walk through Ulster football’s Mecca… SATURDAY in Clones was absolutely magic. You could see it, feel it and almost taste it. As for the football […]
John Toal looks into McGuinness v McGeeney
May 9, 2025
John Toal knows exactly what Kieran McGeeney and Jim McGuinness bring to the table. Shaun Casey writes… ON Saturday afternoon, at the start of this season’s Ulster Championship final, Kieran McGeeney will lock eyes and shake hands with Jim McGuinness for the tenth time in his managerial career. Across tenures with Kildare and his native […]
PREVIEW: It’s up for grabs as Armagh and Donegal lock horns again
May 9, 2025
Ulster SFC final Armagh v Donegal Saturday, Clones, 5.25pm By Michael McMullan IF we get half of the drama of last year’s final, Clones will be rocking on Saturday evening as two heavyweights slug it out once again. The margins were small. When Jemar Hall decided to drop off Odhrán Doherty to defend the middle, […]