As Donegal take on Armagh in the Ulster SFC quarter-final this weekend at MacCumhaill Park, we look back at the recent meetings between two of Ulsters most dominant sides in the 21st century.
Since the turn of the century, the two sides have enjoyed plenty of success, with only Tyrone (8) winning more Ulster titles than Donegal (5) and Armagh (6).
The two counties have enjoyed their own small periods of domination in that time as all their wins came in the same decade.
Armagh, under Joe Kernan, were always a force to be reckoned with, winning four Ulster Championships between 2001 and 2007, with their other two titles coming either side of his reign.
Meanwhile, until 2011, Donegal had been deprived of an Ulster Championship title since their All-Ireland winning season of 1992.
Jim McGuinness’ side changed all that, winning three in four years before current manager Declan Bonner guided the side to back-to-back Ulster Championships in 2018 and 2019.
After the ending to the last meeting between the two sides at O’Donnell Park, with six players being banned retrospectively for the brawl after the full-time whistle (despite Armagh appealing their four bans and having them overturned), many will be expecting another heated clash between these teams.
2020: Donegal 1-22 Armagh 0-13
In this semi-final clash, the only time Declan Bonner and Kieran McGeeney have come up against each other as manager of their respective counties in an Ulster Championship match, Donegal walked away victorious with 13 different scorers.
Rian O’Neill got seven of Armaghs 13 scores in Breffni as Donegal were comfortable in the behind closed doors match, but would go on to lose in the final to Cavan.
2015: Armagh 0-8 Donegal 2-11
Donegal coasted into the semi-finals of the Ulster championship after defeating Armagh in a scorcher of a day at the Athletic Grounds.
Goals from Marty O’Reilly and Patrick McBrearty, while Michael Murphy converted five frees gave Donegal a convincing win before another final defeat to Monaghan in Clones
2014: Armagh 1-11 Donegal 1-12
Armagh took Monaghan to a replay in the 2014 Ulster semi-final before losing out, with Donegal beating the Farney side in the final.
Armagh came through the back door, defeating Tyrone, Roscommon and Meath on the way to the quarter-finals where they suffered a narrow loss to the eventual runners-up at Croke Park.
2007: Donegal 1-9 Armagh 1-8
Donegal ended their championship hoodoo over Armagh and began their winning ways over the Saffron county with this win at MacCumhaill Park thanks to Colm McFaddens free-kick accuracy, converting six frees, and a Brendan Devenney goal.
2006: Armagh 1-9 Donegal 0-9
A goal from Armagh captain Paul McGrane was the only thing to separate these two sides at full-time in this Ulster final at Croke Park.
A crowd of over 50,000 had just watched Armagh win their third Ulster title in a row at full-time in this game as Donegal would still be searching for their first Ulster title for 14 years.
2005: Armagh 3-11 Donegal 1-10
After a 12 point apiece draw in the quarter-final, Donegal were outgunned by the eventual Ulster winners,
The game wasn’t without drama however, as Eamon McGee was the first of four players sent off by Maurice Deegan with Donegal trailing by over five points.
The Gaoth Dobhair man picked up a second yellow early into the second half, before Brian Roper also was shown a second yellow by Deegan.
Armagh were soon out of sight with two more goals but the action wasn’t finished.
A red card for each team was then shown, for Adrian Sweeney and Francie Bellew, and despite Devenney getting a goal back for Donegal, it was game over, Armagh would go on to defeat Tyrone in the final.
Tyrone would however, get revenge in the All-Ireland semi-final and eventually win the All-Ireland by defeating Kerry in the final.
In the previous years, the games between the sides never ended well for the Green and Gold:
2004 Ulster Final: Armagh 3-15 Donegal 0-11
2003 All-Ireland Semi-final: Armagh 2-10 Donegal 1-9
2002 Ulster Final: Armagh 1-14 Donegal 1-10
