2025 Ulster Senior Football Championship final

2025 Ulster SFC Final
Event2025 Ulster Senior Football Championship
A.E.T.
Date10 May 2025
VenueSt Tiernach's Park, Clones
Man of the MatchMichael Murphy (Donegal)
RefereeBrendan Cawley (Kildare)
Attendance28,788

The 2025 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final was the showpiece game of that year's Ulster Senior Football Championship; one of four provincial championships and part of the 2025 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

The game was won by defending champions Donegal,[1] who defeated defending All-Ireland Champions Armagh by one point, with a score of 2-23 (29) to 0-28 (28).

The game was played at St Tiernach's Park, Clones, Co. Monaghan on Saturday 10 May 2025 and was immediately preceded by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Ulster Senior Championship Final between the same two counties.[2]

Armagh appeared in their third consecutive Ulster Final, aiming to capture the county's first provincial title since 2008, while Donegal were the defending champions, having beaten Armagh at the same stage in 2024.

Kildare's Brendan Cawley was the referee.[3]

Paths to the final

Donegal entered the championship in the preliminary round, where they faced Derry at Ballybofey on 6 April, winning by 10 points.[4] At the quarter-final stage, they faced Monaghan at Clones, winning by two points.[5] In the semi-final, the faced 2024 Tailteann Cup winners Down county football team, winning by six points.[6]

Armagh's opening game came against Antrim at Belfast's Corrigan Park on 12 April. The game had been moved by Ulster GAA to Páirc Esler in Newry, but a successful campaign - including a proposed boycott by the Antrim team saw the game being staged at the West Belfast venue. Armagh won the contest by 11 points,[7] and faced Tyrone in the semi-final at Clones on 26 April, winning the tie by one point.[8]

Match Details

Details

10 May 2025 (2025-05-10)
17:25
Final
Armagh 0-28 2-23 Donegal
(HT: 0–11 – 0–16)

Pts: E Raffety (3) R McQuillan (3) J Óg Burns (1) C O'Neill (1) B Crealy (1) O Conaty (6) A Murnin (1) O'O'Neill (7) J Duffy (1)
Gls: C Moore (1) H McFadden (1)
Pts: P Mogan (1) C Moore (1) C Thompson (4) M Langan (2) D Ó Bail (1) P McBrearty (3) M Murphy (3) O Gallen (4) C O'Donnell (1) J McGee (1) N O'Donnell (2)
St Tiernach's Park, Clones
Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)
Attendance: 28,788
Standby: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
Linesman: David Coldrick (Meath)
Sideline: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
Umpires: Eoghan Fitzpatrick, Johnny Farrell, Dave Coady, Lee Moore
Armagh
Donegal
1 Ethan Rafferty
2 Paddy Burns
3 Barry McCambridge
17 Aidan Forker (C)  61'
5 Ross McQuillan  87'
6 Greg McCabe  54'
7 Jarly Óg Burns
8 Callum O'Neill  49'
9 Ben Crealey
10 Darragh McMullen
11 Rory Grugan  83'
12 Oisín Conaty  78'
24 Tiernan Kelly  41'
14 Andrew Murnin  71'
15 Oisín O'Neill  59'
Substitutes:
16 Blaine Hughes
4 Peter McGrane  54'
18 Tomás McCormack  87'
19 Connaire Mackin  71'
20 Jason Duffy
21 Niall Grimley  61'
22 Shane McPartlan  83'
23 Cian McConville  78'
13 Conor Turbitt  41'
25 Stefan Campbell  49'
26 Jemar Hall

Manager:
Kieran McGeeney
1 Shaun Patton
2 Finnbarr Roarty
3 Brendan McCole  83'
4 Peadar Mogan
5 Ryan McHugh  78'
26 Caolan McGonigle
7 Ciarán Moore  54'  81'
8 Ciarán Thompson
9 Michael Langan
10 Dáire Ó Baoil  51'  78'
24 Hugh McFadden  49'
12 Shane O'Donnell  81'
13 Patrick McBrearty (C)  42'  76'
14 Michael Murphy  76'
15 Oisín Gallen  64'
Substitutes:
16 Gavin Mulreany
17 Mark Curran
18 Odhran McFadden Ferry
19 Odhran Doherty
20 Aaron Doherty  64'
21 Eoin McHugh  54'
22 Jason McGee  49'
23 Jamie Brennan  51'  71'
11 Conor O'Donnell  42'
25 Niall O'Donnell  71'
6 Stephen McMenamin  83'

Manager:
Jim McGuinness

Man of the Match:
Michael Murphy (Donegal)

References

  1. ^ Mooney, Francis. "Donegal go the distance against Armagh to retain Ulster SFC crown". RTÉ.
  2. ^ "Armagh brush Donegal aside to claim the Ulster Ladies' Senior Football Championship title". The Irish News. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Referees named for Ulster and Leinster SFC Finals". GAA.ie. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Ulster SFC: Donegal impress against Derry". GAA.ie. 6 April 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Ulster SFC: Donegal beat spirited Monaghan to reach last four". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Holders Donegal reach Ulster final with victory over Down - as it happened". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  7. ^ "Ulster SFC: Armagh defeat Antrim". GAA.ie. 12 April 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  8. ^ "Ulster SFC: Armagh snatch dramatic semi-final win over Tyrone with last kick". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2025.