Ciarán Thompson's ties with the last Ulster final between Donegal and Armagh in 2006

The last time Donegal faced Armagh in an Ulster final was back in 2006 in Croke Park. A day that no doubt will resonate with Donegal player Ciarán Thompson more than others. 

While it will be remembered overall for Armagh becoming the first county to complete a hat-trick of Ulster football titles since 1961 when they bet Brian McIvor’s men that day by three points, a young primary school boy named Ciarán Thompson played for the Donegal Cumann na mBunscoil team at half time that day. 

Eighteen years later, Thompson will take centre stage against the Orchard County this weekend in Clones as Donegal look to clinch their 11th Ulster title in history – the county’s first since 2019. 

The sides are much more even now than in the past with Sunday expected to be a nip and tuck game, but back in 2006, it was the sixth year in a row that Donegal's Ulster exit has been at the hands of the Orchard County with Armagh winning that day on a scoreline of 1-9 to 0-9. 

That final saw Armagh's Oisin McConville become the record point scorer in the history of the Ulster Championship, while Thompson’s older brothers Leon and Anthony were a part of the Donegal squad that day but did not play.