Monaghan captain Micheál Bannigan has issued a rallying cry to his teammates ahead of Sunday's Ulster Senior Football Championship final against Armagh, warning that they must rise to the challenge of matching their opponents' blistering form. The showdown at Clones (16:15 BST) pits the Farney men against an Armagh side fresh off a stunning 28-point demolition of Down in the semi-finals—a performance that has made Kieran McGeeney's team heavy favorites to end their 18-year wait for an Anglo-Celt Cup triumph.
Armagh's ruthless display came less than 24 hours after Monaghan's own dramatic semi-final victory over Derry, a game that had everything: a controversial two-pointer from Jack McCarron after referee Noel Mooney initially signaled full-time before reversing his decision, extra-time drama, and a last-gasp two-pointer from Rory Beggan to seal the win. It was a classic example of Monaghan's never-say-die spirit, but Bannigan knows that to lift their first Ulster title since 2015, they'll need to be at their absolute best.
"I think they definitely can repeat that performance against Down," Bannigan told BBC Sport NI, acknowledging Armagh's momentum. "They've performed very well in their last two games and weren't bad against Tyrone either. But the real question is: can we get up there and match them? It's another game of football. Win it, and you get all the plaudits, but you have to put in your head that you're playing Armagh in a game of football—and can we be better over 70 minutes?"
Armagh have been on a mission this season, reaching their fourth consecutive provincial final despite heartbreaking losses in the previous three. The manner of their semi-final win, however, suggests they're peaking at the right time. For Monaghan, the challenge is clear: replicate the resilience they showed against Derry, when they trailed by double digits in the second half before staging a remarkable comeback. Bannigan never lost faith during that thriller. "At half-time, we said we'd given ourselves a mountain to climb, but we've been in that position before and came close to climbing it," he reflected. "We know we can reel them back in with two-pointers. We never thought it was gone."
As the two sides prepare for what promises to be an epic clash, all eyes will be on whether Monaghan can summon that same fighting spirit against an Armagh team that looks ready to finally break their Ulster drought. For fans of both teams, this is the kind of final that defines seasons—and legacies.