Confirmation of Clones Ulster SFC final is music to McGuinness's ears

The Ulster Council have confirmed that the Ulster SFC final will take place at St Tiernach's Park on Saturday, May 10.

The final, between Donegal and Armagh will start at 5:25pm, preceded by the LGFA Ulster Senior Championship final between the same two teams at 2:30pm. 

Donegal are the current Ulster champions, having defeated Armagh 6-5 on penalties last season following a 0-20 to 0-20 draw after extra-time but it was the team managed by Kieran McGeeney who enjoyed success in the All-Ireland series, defeating Galway to win Sam Maguire. 

The decision to play the final in Clones and not Croke Park will please Donegal boss Jim McGuinness, who moments before the confirmation of the venue stressed his desire to see the match played at the Monaghan venue.

"We definitely want Clones, our supporters have been through enough with three games in three weeks, that’s a lot of money out of everyone’s bank accounts when you’re bringing kids and stuff," he said.

"I know I’m like a broken record on this, but I firmly believe our supporters shouldn’t be going to Dublin and the expense that incurs, they should be going to Clones and playing the game there. I think that part of it, and four games in five weeks, should be respected - who are we serving? It’s a genuine question, it’s not the children or the old people or the people struggling to put a couple of pound away.

"A lot of families in Donegal are saving money and not doing other things so they can follow Donegal and that has to be respected so we’ll be pushing for Clones without a doubt. They love playing in Croke Park, don’t get me wrong but Clones is where Ulster finals are played and in terms of our supporters we’d just be very passionate about playing the game here."