The Ulster final is a huge occasion every year, but the teams involved in this year's decider ensured that it would be an even livelier affair.
Armagh were hoping to win the competition for the first time since 2008, ensuring a huge amount of interest in that county. While Derry won the trophy last year, their following in recent times also ensured that they would have a huge level of support for the game.
Such was the level of interest in the fixture that there were even suggestions it could be moved to Croke Park. It was instead decided to stick with Clones as the venue, with tickets quickly snapped up.
For those who were watching the game on television, it was difficult to distinguish between the two teams at times.
Viewers baffled by colour clash in Ulster final
Armagh and Derry are not two counties that would traditionally have to worry about a colour clash. After all, Armagh's orange strip is quite different to the traditional white of their opponents.
However, that was not the case for this game.
Derry opted to wear their alternate red jersey for the game, just as they did in the semi-final against Fermanagh.
With Armagh's jersey this year also being less vibrant than other editions, it meant that it was difficult to tell which team was which for those watching the game on television.
Ethan Rafferty is caught in no man's land and Derry take full advantge for an early goal
📺Watch: https://t.co/ZfZ9mA9XTY
⌨️Updates: https://t.co/Gbk0tPnkMN
📻Listen: https://t.co/2SRRKdgjzu #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/Fd9C1aurEE— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 14, 2023
Quite a few people took to social media to social media to share their confusion with the kit choices.
Not sure how Armagh and Derry were both allowed to wear their home jerseys in this game. Very difficult to tell them apart on TV.
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) May 14, 2023
Armagh v Derry, fuck me the kits are so similar hard to tell who's who 🟠⚪
— Undercoverred (@Neilsimmonds17) May 14, 2023
How isn’t this a kit clash in the Derry Armagh game, eyes are sore looking at it
— Neill Byrne (@NeillB42) May 14, 2023
Nice colour clash between Armagh and Derry. Completely unavoidable of course
— Nicholas O'Connor (@Nocalas) May 14, 2023
Maybe it was the beers I had at the wedding yesterday getting to me but surely those 2 jerseys are way too similar in Armagh v Derry Ulster Final 🤨 #gaa #RTEGAA #armaghderry
— Conor McGraynor (@ConorMcGraynor) May 14, 2023
From a promotional/TV point of view would it have been better for one of Armagh or Derry to change their jerseys? Practically identical when TV shows a wide shot 🤷♂️
— Michael Byrne (@michaelbyrne4) May 14, 2023
Ah lads surely someone in the gaa would’ve realised there’s a colour clash between Armagh and Derry wearing red and orange 😭
— Jim Flano 🌐 (@jimFlanagan_) May 14, 2023
Trying to make out whose who in this Armagh Derry game. Looks like 30 players running round all playing for the one team 👀 pic.twitter.com/mW0jkqTYbF
— The GAA Corner (@thegaacorner) May 14, 2023
Good start for Derry, or could be Armagh I can’t tell which is which with the jerseys
— James Murray (@J_Murray12) May 14, 2023
Did someone not think that armagh v Derry, that a change of Jersey colour for one or other was a good idea
— patrick malone (@padraigmalone) May 14, 2023
Ah Jaysus @officialgaa... kit clash between Derry & Armagh today is a joke... @TheSundayGame pic.twitter.com/3qUhQF6rrC
— Ollie Costelloe (@olliecost) May 14, 2023
Armagh and Derry wearing the same jersey 🙄🙄.. clueless
— Eddy Walsh (@eddywalsh) May 14, 2023
That Armagh and Derry jersey clash is mad
— Ciaran Worth (@CiaranWorth) May 14, 2023
It is certainly something that could have been easily avoided had Derry wore their traditional home jersey, or even if Armagh also opted to change to an alternate option.
Incidents such as this just seem like a complete lack of disregard for supporters. It certainly doesn't happen in other sports with the same regularity that it does in the GAA.
It just reeks of a lack of planning or consideration for those watching the games.
SEE ALSO: Brolly's '98 Derry Team Were Planning Boycott Over Gallagher Allegations
