Countdown: Buildup to the All-Ireland Senior Football Final

The all-Ulster All-Ireland

The experts' views

Dr Pat O'Neill - former All-Ireland winning footballer and manager with Dublin

"Armagh and Tyrone have both won their way through the open draw system, so I don't think you can argue against them being the two best teams in the country right now. And it's no less of an All-Ireland final just because the two teams come from the same province.

"The old provincial system was simply seeded geographically, and I think we will see even further changes in the near future, which will widen the open format, and perhaps even introduce a league system in determining the All-Ireland finalists.

"I'm aware that both Armagh and Tyrone have been criticised for their style of play this season, especially after their semi-finals. And that hasn't been totally unfair. They do have a different style, which is very defensive, and involves strong tackling, and from the purists point of view that would not be the most entertaining, or even exciting.

"But that sort of football does require a very high level of fitness, and a high work rate, and also a high level of concentration over the 70 minutes. Which is not easy. And winning is very much their goal, so you can't be over-critical of that.

"You will find a lot of other teams outside of Ulster adopting those kinds of tactics, but I think as well that the style will evolve, and teams will be looking for ways to beat it. There was something similar in the 1970s in the era of the Dublin-Kerry finals, when Kerry, too, were finding it very hard to forge a way through the Dublin defence. And then they found a way, putting Eoin "Bomber" Liston into the square and sending high ball into him. So teams will always adapt, and styles will always change.

"As for Sunday, I think it will a very interesting game. You have two similar teams, though not identical, and it will be fascinating to watch how their styles will clash in the open spaces of Croke Park. As long as it doesn't become overly defensive like their semi-finals did I think it has the potential to be a classic.

"But I wouldn't like to call a winner. Armagh do have that bit more experience now, but Tyrone have the extra bit of flair, and such huge underage talent. It really depends on how the game plays out and it certainly seems to be a very open final."

- Ian O'Riordan

Previous encounters

McGuigan's masterclass

Ulster SFC final 15th July, 1984: Tyrone 0-15 Armagh 1-7

This was the origin of the Tyrone side that would give Kerry a fright in the All-Ireland final two years later. But this Ulster final was completely overshadowed by the scoring performance of Ardboe's Frank McGuigan whose son Brian will line out at centre forward for Tyrone this weekend.

McGuigan scored 11 points from play in this match, a total that is believed to be a record for championship football, as scoring was much more difficult in the days for which records are unreliable.

A good ball winner, he was also quick off the mark and comfortable off either foot. One of his trademark moves was to dummy on one foot and suddenly switch to the other before getting the kick away. The 11 points were perfectly split: five off the left, five off the right and one fisted.

A talented minor, McGuigan captained Tyrone to an All-Ireland final against Cork in 1972, missing by a year the county's next victory in the grade, but he emigrated to the US in 1977. He returned in 1983 but his best playing years had passed.

Nonetheless the match that made his legend came a year later in Clones. Armagh were the most successful team in Ulster at the time, having won the title twice in the previous four years and featuring a number of the players who had reached the All-Ireland final in 1977.

Plunkett Donaghy and Eugene McKenna were well on top at centrefield that day and McGuigan got a good supply of ball. Within the first 10 minutes he had kicked three points. By half-time the total was seven and Armagh moved Kieran McNally in from wing back to switch with full back Tom Cassidy. The move restricted McGuigan's opportunities but he still managed a further four to repel Armagh's comeback.

Dublin beat Tyrone in the 1984 All-Ireland semi-final and a car crash abruptly ended McGuigan's playing career a couple of months later. He also had to battle long-term alcohol addiction but has been in recovery for the past five years.

- Seán Moran

'Mind Yourself' campaign

In association with the East Cavan Project, four of the Gaelic Players' Association's most prominent members are spearheading a campaign to address the challenge of young male suicide, directly endorsing the Mind Yourself campaign.

Fronting the campaign will be All-Ireland captains Kieran McGeeney and Peter Canavan, Cavan's Dermot McCabe and Dublin's Dessie Farrell. Commenting on the GPA's support for the campaign, GPA chief executive Farrell said: "We are all too aware of the devastating effect depression and, more significantly, suicide has on all concerned. I have no doubt this project will be extremely well received and will successfully communicate a positive message of support.

"The hope is that the stigmatisation commonly associated with mental health intervention will be significantly reduced and individuals will understand that it is not a show of weakness but rather a sign of strength to ask for help in a time of crisis."

Football Speak 2003 July

"Keep writing us off boys, we love it. Don't think we don't use it!"

Joe Kernan after his side beat Dublin in the qualifiers.

"Listen, people gave these boys stick and said they were poor All-Ireland champions. I never saw a poor team win an All-Ireland yet."

Joe Kernan stands by his team.

"Cluxton, they tell me Cluxton drew a kick on your man. If he did he deserved to go as well. Just f***ing ridiculous stuff. A goalie getting sent off like that. Just turned the whole game, after that we were just chasing shadows."

In the immediate aftermath of defeat to Armagh Tommy Lyons gives his view on the sending off of Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton.

"We can't say they didn't deserve to win it, but I think if Stephen Cluxton didn't get sent off we would have won that game today."

Lyons seems to blame his goalkeeper.

"Don't be asking questions like that, for Jaysus sake."

Lyons when asked why he removed Jonny Magee in the immediate aftermath of the Cluxton dismissal.

"We're still players short, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to see that. It's hard to get young fellas ready for that intensity of battle like that. We need to find more players. We have a lot of one standard."

Lyons laments the shortage of quality in the county.

"The fourth goal was a real blow. Where do you go from here? It was like climbing to the top of a mountain and when you get to the top you fall off and have to climb it again."

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte after his side drew with Down in the Ulster SFC semi-final.

"All I could see were faces screaming up at me. And sure after 57 years I'm sorry, there was no keeping them off the pitch."

Laois captain Ian Fitzgerald describes the scene after his county's first Leinster championship since 1946.

"I think it's great for the so-called weaker counties around the country."

Laois manager Mick O'Dwyer after the Leinster final.

"I've no words today and would appreciate it if you would all leave the changing room."

Down manager Paddy O'Rourke after his side's exit to Tyrone in the Ulster SFC semi-final replay.