Shane McPartlan taps over the first score of the game from a close range free.

Paudie Hughes from Crossmaglen throws the ball in and the 2024 Armagh senior football final is up and running.

Seamus McConville and Jimmy Smyth reminisced about the 1968 Armagh SFC final between Clan na Gael and Clann Eireann ahead of the Lurgan rivals' county decider meeting on Saturday evening (18:00 BST).

Smyth and his Clan na Gael team-mates beat McConville's Clann Eireann in the final 56 years ago, the last time the two clubs met in the Orchard showpiece.

"We thought we were favourites to win," McConville said of Clann Eireann, who won their first Armagh title since 1963 in 2021.

Smyth, who worked for more than 20 years as BBC Northern Ireland's main television GAA commentator after his playing days, says there is "more than a county title up for grabs".

"It's not just the bragging right but it's an emphasis of the coaching that's gone on in both clubs," said Smyth.

While Clann Eireann ended their long wait in 2021, Clan na Gael last won the Armagh title in 1994.

Image source, BBC Sport

Two changes to the Clann Eireann team from the match programme and Eoghan Mullholland replaces Jamie McAtavey in goals while Emmett Magee takes the place of Aodhan McConville at right corner-forward.

Two late changes on the Clan na Gael team also and Shea McCann replaces Aaron McCreanor at full-back while Diarmuid Loney comes in for Ciaran Campbell at right corner-forward.

Here's our match report if you fancy getting a few more details on what happened in the Derry Hurling Final at Owenbeg earlier.

Image source, BBC Sport

Six days on and with Storm Ashley now been and gone this eagerly anticipated Armagh senior final between Clann Eireann and Clan na Gael has been given the Saturday night lights billing at the Athletic Grounds.

In sport there is no such thing as a certainty but ahead of this Orchard decider one thing is for sure and that's the fact that the Gerry Fagan Cup will reside in Lurgan over the winter months.

It's the first time two Lurgan clubs have contested the decider since 1968.

2024 will go down in Armagh folklore forever with the county claiming the Sam Maguire for only the second time.

A host of those stars will be on show today with Clann Eireann able to call upon Tiernan Kelly, Conor Turbitt and the footballer of the year candidate Barry McCambridge.

Clan na Gael have senior stars Stefan Campbell and Shane McPartlan as well as county minor captain Callum O'Neill.

On that now infamous occasion in 1968 it was the men in Clan na Gael blue who took both the cup and the local bragging rights so will it be a case of repeat or revenge?

Clann Eireann: Jamie McAtavey; Shea Heffron, Michael O'Shea, Conan O'Carroll; Barry McCambridge, Sean McCarthy, Ryan Owens; Tiernan Kelly, Conor McConville; Jack Conlon, Daniel Magee, Adam Kelly; Ruairi McDonald, Conor Turbitt, Aodhan McConville.

Clan na Gael: Ryan Conway; Sam MacLarnon, Aaron McCreanor, Jack Lavery; Niall Loney, Michael McConville, Jamie Brady; Diarmuid O'Hagan, Shane McPartlan; Sean Mackle, Niall Henderson, Callum O'Neill; Malachi Ward, Stefan Campbell, Ciaran Campbell.

Image source, BBC Sport

Storm Ashley played havoc with the GAA club calendar last Sunday with host of postponements across the island of Ireland.

We've already started to play catch-up with Errigal Ciaran beating holders Trillick to regain the Tyrone title winning 0-12 to 1-8 thanks to a late winner from Ruairi Canavan at Healy Park.

It's as you were on the Derry hurling scene as Slaughtneil claimed a 12th senior title in a row with a 0-16 to 0-4 win over Banagher at Owenbeg earlier today.

This evening we'll keep you right up to date on matters here at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh as Clann Eireann prepare to do battle with fellow Lurgan side Clan na Gael at 6pm.

Image source, Getty Images