The parade has begun as we edge closer to throw-in.

Will this one be as routine for Armagh as many people expect or can Monaghan spring another surprise?

Thanks to Motion 13 passing at GAA Congress earlier this year, provincial finals that finish level after extra-time will now go to a replay.

Penalties will only come into play should a replay finish level after extra-time.

Oisin McConville
Armagh All-Ireland winner on BBC Sport NI

Armagh are scarred after the past three finals but also battle-hardened. This year feels different though.

Conor McManus
Two-time Ulster winner on BBC Sport NI

Big excitement in the county after the win over Derry. The performances in the league and against Cavan suggested Monaghan maybe wouldn't be here. The anticipation is kicking in.

Monaghan must tighten up defensively and summon the defiant energy of 2013 to shock "heavy favourites" Armagh in Sunday's Ulster Senior Football final, says Conor McManus.

The Clones showpiece pits two teams hoping to end long droughts for provincial silverware, with Monaghan's last Anglo-Celt Cup coming in 2015.

But with Armagh widely tipped to end their 18-year wait after annihilating Down by 28 points in the semi-final, Monaghan may need to emulate the 2013 final when they showed remarkable intensity to stun reigning All-Ireland champions Donegal and win the county's first Ulster title since 1988.

"It's going to take that sort of performance to win this Ulster final," said McManus, who scored 0-3 in the 2013 final before captaining Monaghan to a repeat win over Donegal two years later.

Read more here

Image source, Getty Images & Inpho

Liam Doherty gives BBC Sport Northern Ireland a behind the scenes look at what goes into preparing Clones for the Ulster Senior Football Championship Final

BBC iPlayer

We have a stacked line-up today for our coverage which begins now on BBC Two NI and BBC iPlayer.

Sarah Mulkerrins presents full match coverage alongside guests Oisin McConville and Conor McManus, with pitch-side updates from Mark Sidebottom alongside Owen Mulligan and Brendan Devenney.

Thomas Niblock is joined on commentary by Philly McMahon.

Armagh claimed the Ulster Football title after coming good in the second half to beat Fermanagh in Sunday's final replay at Clones.

Read the match report here

Image source, BBC Sport

Armagh claim the 2008 Ulster title with a 1-11 to 0-8 win over Fermanagh in a replay at Clones.

John McGovern
BBC Sport NI contributor at St Tiernach's Park

The weather has been doing its best to keep everyone guessing in Clones, with a brief spell of drizzle now giving way to sunshine as both teams emerged onto the pitch to a thunderous reception from supporters inside St Tiernach’s Park.

Armagh arrive as favourites once again after piling up exactly 100 points across their championship campaign, including that devastating semi-final dismantling of Down a fortnight ago.

But Monaghan have already shown this spring that they thrive when written off. Gabriel Bannigan’s side produced the comeback of the championship against Derry, recovering from a 10-point half-time deficit before Rory Beggan’s dramatic late two-pointer sealed an unforgettable extra-time victory.

The Orchardmen, meanwhile, know all about the fine margins of Ulster final day, having lost each of their last three provincial deciders by either a single point or on penalties after extra-time.

Everything points towards another gripping Anglo-Celt Cup showdown.

Gabriel Bannigan makes three changes to the starting XV that dramatically overcame Derry a fortnight ago. Midfielder Louis Kelly is ruled out with an achilles injury.

Oisin McGorman comes into the side with Killian Lavelle moved to centre-half back and Karl Gallagher pushed into midfield. Bobby McCaul will start ahead of Cameron Dowd while David Garland is a late change for Stephen Mooney at corner forward.

The Farneymen also welcome back Ryan Wylie and Gary Mohan, who could make his first appearance since February.

Wylie started when Monaghan last lifted the Anglo Celt Cup in 2015 while Ryan McAnespie, who is also on the bench, was a used substitute in that victory over Donegal.

As for Armagh, Kieran McGeeney has named the same 15 that blitzed Down in the semi-final.

Greg McCabe is named in the half-back line with Joe McElroy into midfield alongside Jason Duffy and Andrew Murnin selected in the forwards, while semi-final top-scorer Conor Turbitt will wear number 11.

McCabe and Murnin are the only two men that are set to start in a fourth straight Ulster Championship final while it's Blaine Hughes' turn to start in goal, having shared that duty with Ethan Rafferty between 2023 and 2025.

The bench is boosted by the return of captain Aidan Forker and Ross McQuillan, who missed the semi-final through injury.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Oisin McGorman, Ryan O'Toole, Dylan Byrne; Bobby McCaul, Killian Lavelle, Dessie Ward; Micheal McCarville, Karl Gallagher; Aaron Carey, Micheal Bannigan, Stephen O'Hanlon; Conor McCarthy, Andrew Woods, David Garland.

Subs: Kian Mulligan, Stephen Mooney, Robbie Hanratty, Cameron Dowd, Gary Mohan, Max Maguire, Ryan McAnespie, Shane Hanratty, Darragh McElearney, Jack McCarron, Ryan Wylie.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Peter McGrane, Aaron McKay, Paddy Burns; Greg McCabe, Tiernan Kelly, Jarlath Og Burns; Joe McElroy, Jason Duffy; Darragh McMullen, Conor Turbitt, Tomas McCormack; Cian McConvile, Andrew Murnin, Oisin Conaty.

Subs: Ethan Rafferty, Gareth Murphy, Oisin O'Neill, Ross McQuillan, Daniel Magee, Ciaran Mackin, Barry McCambridge, Ryan Duffy, Aidan Forker, Aaron O'Neill, Rory Grugan

Image source, BBC Sport

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI in Clones

There's been a carnival atmosphere around Clones all afternoon.

Naturally, both sets of fans are out on force with St Tiernanch's Park starting to fill up.

The rain that has been looming arrived but seems to have now blown through with the sun now returning. Let's hope it stays that way.

Armagh are favourites to make up for Ulster final heartache over the previous three years, but do not write off this Monaghan side. They just wouldn't go away against Derry in the semi-final and that spirit is hard to break.

This could be a cracker.

Monaghan edged a thrilling Ulster final against Donegal and held out in a gripping second half to win a second provincial crown in three years.

Monaghan edged out Donegal by a point to win the title in Clones.

Read the 2015 match report here

Image source, Inpho

Last gasp drama and an extra-time winner as Farney men make the Ulster Final

John McGovern
BBC Sport NI at St Tiernach's Park

Image source, Getty Images

Everything is building nicely ahead of the 138th Ulster Championship final as supporters continue to flood into St Tiernach’s Park for today’s Anglo-Celt Cup showdown.

Fans arriving in Clones have already been treated to plenty of pre-match entertainment, with The Whistlin’ Donkeys' performance earlier this afternoon adding to an atmosphere that has been bubbling ahead of today's contest.

Armagh’s team bus rolled in at approximately 2:30 pm, with Kieran McGeeney and his players soon out on the pitch ahead of the Orchard County’s fourth consecutive Ulster final appearance.

Hosts, Monaghan arrived around half an hour later as Gabriel Bannigan prepares to lead the Farneymen into their first provincial decider since 2021.

A crowd just shy of 30,000 looks highly likely, with Clones town packed from early afternoon as seas of orange and blue-and-white jerseys filled the streets long before throw-in.