The Ulster Council of the GAA has confirmed that the Ulster Senior Football Final between Donegal and Armagh will be played at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones on Saturday May 10. The game will have a 5.25 throw-in and will be part of a doubler header, with the curtain raiser the ladies provincial final which will also be contested by Donegal and Armagh and will commence at 2.30. There had been speculation that the match could be switched to Croke Park and the Ulster Council announcement was greeted with widespread welcome and relief in Monaghan GAA circles and hailed by the members of the Ballybay-Clones Municipal District on Monday (see below).
“This was the correct decision,” Monaghan Fianna Fáil Senator Robbie Gallagher, who had called on the Ulster Council in recent weeks to confirm Clones as the venue and end speculation over a Croke Park switch. Speaking to the Northern Standard, Senator Gallagher thanked the Ulster Council for all the hard work behind the scenes in relation to determining throw-in times and resolving the accumulation of different issues involved. “There are a lot of moving parts to this issue,”
Senator Gallagher remarked, “with TV channels such as RTÉ, the BBC and other factors involved. “I think that Monaghan Co Council and the local Co Board also deserve appreciation for their hard work in making sure that the Ulster Final stays in Clones. “There is nothing to beat the atmosphere of a final in Clones and of course the final is vital for the town of Clones itself.” COUNCILLORS IN CLONES WELCOME NEWS At the outset of Ballybay/Clones Municipal District meeting on Monday afternoon, Cathaoirleach Richard Truell expressed his delight at confirmation that the Ulster Final would be played in Clones once again this year. “St. Tiernach’s Park’s retention of the Ulster Final is great news for Clones and County….
