Niall Gartland looks back on this year’s Ulster SFC ahead of Saturday’s final

Preliminary Round

Donegal 1-25 Derry 1-15

DERRY had failed to register a single victory in this year’s Division One campaign, so they were big underdogs for this one. The first 20 minutes or so didn’t go quite according to script, but Donegal were settled by a goal from Dáire Ó Baoill and led by 1-12 to 1-5 at the break. Two-pointers from Brendan Rogers and Conor Doherty helped Derry chip away at the deficit but Donegal regained control of the contest, scoring seven points in the space of seven minutes. A matter of job done from a Donegal perspective while Paddy Tally’s men were left to lick their wounds after yet another defeat.

Quarter-finals

Antrim 1-23 Armagh 1-34

CORRIGAN Park or nowhere. The controversy over the venue overshadowed the build-up to this game but while Antrim rightly got their way in the final end up, they were still annoyed about the whole saga and they gave the All-Ireland champions their fill of it and actually led at half-time on a scoreline of 0-14 to 0-13. Ross McQuillan edged Armagh back in front after 42 minutes, a lead they would hold to the finish as Antrim’s challenge rapidly receded. The Orchard County were missing the majority of starters from last year’s final but their debut boys did extremely well in what turned out to be a comfortable enough win.

Tyrone 1-24 Cavan 0-20

CAVAN haven’t won a championship outing against Tyrone since all the way back in 1983, and they failed to mount much of a challenge in their latest defeat to the Red Hands. This was Malachy O’Rourke’s first championship encounter in charge of Tyrone and they laid the platform for their victory by absolutely dominating the midfield battle in the first-half. A string of two-pointers kept Tyrone honest in the second-half, but they always had enough attacking power down the other end of the pitch, even with the absence of the injured Darragh Canavan.

Fermanagh 0-23 Down 2-19

FERMANAGH fans, look away now. Inspired by a performance of sheer class from Conor Love, Fermanagh looked like they were on course for a first Ulster Championship victory of any description since 2018 against an underpar Down. Two more beauties from that man Conor Love and a point from Johnny Cassidy opened up a 0-20 to 0-13 lead heading into the home straight, but that’s where it went awry. Down took control in the middle and made hay with late goals from Daniel Guinness and Ryan McEvoy propelling the Mournemen to what had been an unlikely looking victory.

Monaghan 0-21 Donegal 0-23

A REALLY good contest. Donegal looked on course for a convincing enough win having racked up a six-point lead at the interval, but Gabriel Bannigan’s side came roaring back into proceedings with two-pointers from Conor McCarthy, Jack McCarron and Mícheál Bannigan. Donegal came back into it again, re-establishing a four-point lead, but Monaghan dug deep in a gripping climax at Clones. There was plenty of debate, healthy we might add, about David Coldrick’s decision to blow the full-time whistle after the ball had gone out for a Monaghan line ball, but it turned out that he had technically made the correct decision.

Armagh 0-23 Tyrone 0-22

A GAME befitting one of the big Ulster footballing rivalries. Armagh looked the better team for three-quarters of this contest and Tyrone had a bit of a mare from Ethan Rafferty’s restarts, but Malachy O’Rourke’s side gave it one almighty push in the third quarter with subs Eoin McElholm, Peter Harte, Ben McDonnell and Padraig Hampsey making a big impact. Still, Armagh showed the composure of champions in the final five minutes, scoring three unanswered points to book their spot in the provincial final with Oisin Conaty, Callum O’Neill and game-winner Rory Grugan among those who stood out to be counted.

Donegal 1-19 Down 0-16

OUR columnist Kevin Cassidy was really impressed by elements of Down’s performance, particularly on the tactical front, but ultimately Donegal were still too strong and advanced as expected to another Ulster final. Down did well early on, picking holes in the Donegal rearguard, but once Patrick McBrearty palmed the ball to the net, it always looked like there was going to be one winner. Among those to impress for Jim McGuinness’ side were Michael Langan and Michael Murphy, and now they’re one step away from retaining their Ulster title.