Ulster final may be hosted at Croker

Ulster Council Secretary Danny Murphy has hinted that the Ulster Senior Football Championship final may be set to return to Croke Park this July, after a four-year absence.

Speaking at today's Ulster SFC Launch at Belfast Castle, Murphy revealed that the Jones's Road venue is not off the table in terms of hosting this year's northern decider.

"If circumstances dictate that consideration (again), our Council will take a look at it," admitted Murphy.

Murphy has previously stated that if a crowd in excess of 45,000 is expected for the final, that consideration will be given for hosting the final at Croke Park.

This year's Ulster final is fixed for Sunday, July 18, with Croke Park currently available on that date.

"The fixing of the Ulster final will take place around the semi-final stages," added Murphy.

"We demonstrated in the past that if we believed that the game needed to go to Croke Park, that we can consider Croke Park.

"There's no indication on that one way or another at this time.

"Games at Croke Park have had crowds in excess of 60,000. If that's the level we're going to, we'd have to consider it."

An Armagh-Tyrone final pairing would be expected to draw a large attendance, with the former All-Ireland champions contesting the 2005 decider at GAA headquarters, which Armagh won after a replay.

Armagh also faced Donegal in the 2004 and 2006 Ulster SFC finals at Croke Park, with the Orchard County victorious in both games.