WATCH: Aaron Kernan: 'The Armagh players are inspiring the next generation and it's a special time for the county'

Armagh’s Aaron Kernan won three Ulster titles with the Orchard County, and he says that the current generation of Armagh players are inspiring the children who look up to them by reaching this weekend’s final.

“The unique bit about the GAA is that when you interact with family, friends, and anyone that you bump into wherever you’re from, everyone has the same common goal and the buy-in that maybe you just don’t have in professional sports,” he said.

“You don’t want to get involved in it (the build-up) too much, but it is definitely something that you have to embrace. What they are doing now, is something that they have dreamt of doing since their childhood, and they now are inspiring the kids who will go there this weekend, hoping that one day they can emulate them.

“It’s a special time, particularly for the players and management who are involved.”

Kernan is predicting a close game on Sunday, but he is backing Armagh to edge it.

“The closer that we get to the game, the more confident I’m starting to become,” he said.

“Any game against a Jim McGuinness Donegal side is never going to have a whole pile in it, but I think the fact that we have played them twice this year offers a great opportunity to get an insight into them, to learn from it, and to get one over on them.

“I said after the league final that if there were lessons to learn, that would prove beneficial to us whenever it really matters. That day has now come to stand up, to do what has to be done, and I’m predicting a two-point win for us on Sunday.”

Kernan also feels that the manner in which Armagh overcame Down – with a stoppage time winner – will give them confidence.

“The manner in which they won, and the way they worked that last score was hugely important, given the narrow defeats they have had from going to extra-time and penalties in the last few years,” he said.

“To have that in your mind as a player whenever you know the game is going to come down to the wire, is massive.

“Another huge positive will be learning from how Down set-up. It’s not going to be a huge shock to the boys if it happens again this weekend.

“Also, the concessions of the two goals hasn’t happened all year, but wasn’t it brilliant that it happened then? Management can sit down, do their analysis, and say ‘why did it happen?’ and cut that out from happening again.

“You would far rather it happened then, than what’s coming down the track this Sunday.”

For all of our build-up to Sunday’s Ulster final, see: https://www.newryreporter.com/sport/gaa