Outright Winner - Ulster SFC Prediction 2025: Donegal to Lift the Cup? 

🏆 Ulster SFC Outright Winner Prediction

Armagh and Donegal have enjoyed a real titanic rivalry in recent times. The Ulster final last year was an absorbing contest. Armagh looked set to end their 16-year barren spell in Ulster as a Stefan Campbell point put them 0-15 to 0-11 ahead after 53 minutes of normal time but Donegal rallied to level matters through captain Paddy McBrearty and force extra-time.

Again, the Orchard county forged two points clear with six minutes left, but Daire O Baoill and Odhran Doherty restored parity and penalties were required. After 11 successful conversions, Shaun Patton's save to deny Shane McPartlan clinched a 6-5 victory for the Tir Conaill side. Donegal and Armagh clashed three times in 2024 and were never separated by more than a point.

Donegal did get the better of Armagh in the Allianz League this spring, winning 0-21 to 1-10 in Ballybofey on the afternoon that Michael Murphy re-emerged from retirement. Armagh are missing Rian O'Neill this season while Donegal have looked very impressive at times in wins over Derry, Monaghan and Down perhaps without fully flexing their muscles.

Incredibly, McGuinness is one game from the end of his sixth Ulster SFC campaign as Donegal boss across his two spells and he has still lost just one game in this provincial series. He can land another Ulster crown and our Finals prediction is for a slender Donegal win.

🔮 Ulster SFC Outright Odds – Bookmarker Favorites

Once again, the Ulster SFC has come down to Donegal and Armagh in the decider. They have been Ulster's two best teams over the last 14 months or so and have battled though the toughest provincial series of them all to take their place in another Clones decider. The last two Ulster final have been decided via penalties and as the outright winner odds below show, another tense contest is expected. Ahead of the Ulster decider, why not check out our sports brands reviews to discover the best places to place your GAA bets this summer.

Donegal: 1.60 – Odds to Win

Donegal are the defending Ulster champions and bidding to win the Anglo Celt Cup for the seventh time since 2011. The Tir Conaill outfit got back to winning ways last season as their inspirational manager Jim McGuinness returned for a second stint as Bainisteoir. Incredibly, the Glenties man has only lost one Ulster SFC game as Donegal boss as he now nears the end of a sixth season in charge across his two spells. That is a stellar record amid the landmines of the Ulster battlegrounds.

Armagh: 2.19 – Odds to Win

Armagh may have lost the last two Ulster finals, but Kieran McGeeney and his squad absorbed the pain of those losses to go on and win the All-Ireland Final in July last year, thus reaching the promised land of Gaelic football for just the second time in their history. They showed in their semi-final win over Tyrone this time that they have the composure and game management skills to answer any question put to them and their desire for a first Ulster crown in 17 years will be stronger than ever despite their status as underdogs with the best betting sites heading to this Clones decider.

📝Fixtures Information

Tournament: Ulster Senior Football Championship

Timetable: 6th April – 11th May 2025

Venue: Semi-Finals & Final – St Tiernach's Park, Clones.

🏁 Review of Ulster SFC 2024 Championships

Last year's Ulster decider was a real tug of war between Donegal and Armagh, and it was the Tir Conaill side that emerged with the Anglo Celt Cup after a dramatic afternoon in Clones that witnessed thunder and lightning, extra-time and a sudden-death penalty shootout before an enthralled capacity attendance of almost 29,000. Armagh cruised past Fermanagh and survived a semi-final scare against Down, while Donegal returned to the showpiece game after stunning Derry with a four-goal salvo in McGuinness' Championship return and then outlasting Tyrone in the last-four.

In the final, Oisin Gallen gave a wonderful exhibition of long-range scoring for Donegal, but Conor Turbitt and Andrew Murnin kept Armagh in touch. It was real blow-for-blow stuff and when Armagh forged four points in front at mid-point of the second half, few would have predicted a Donegal recovery. They mustered one from somewhere, skipper Paddy McBrearty forcing extra-time where Donegal again had to come from two down with time running out fast to ensure a second successive Ulster final would be decided on penalties.

After 11 successful spot-kicks, Shaun Patton got down low to his right-hand side to deny Shane McPartlan and leave Armagh crushed by a second shootout loss in an Ulster decider and their third in Championship football under McGeeney, while Donegal celebrated their 11th Ulster SFC title and a seventh since 2011 in a golden era for the Men from the Hills.