Donegal manager Jim McGuinness is expecting Armagh to push them all the way again as the county seek an unprecedented third consecutive Ulster SFC title in 2026.
McGuinness has delivered back-to-back provincial successes during two separate stints as Donegal manager but a hat-trick of Anglo Celt Cups has not been achieved since Down pulled off the feat between 1959 and 1961.
McGuinness was speaking at the annual Donegal GAA Awards ceremony in the Abbey Hotel at the weekend.
He reflected on that Titanic Ulster final tussle with Armagh and knows the 2024 All-Ireland champions will be as determined as ever to secure first provincial title since 2008.
"I have to give the lads huge credit, and it was a mammoth task against an Armagh team that really had us in their sights, and it will be the same next year and there is no doubt about that," McGuinness said.
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"They really want to get one over on us and they haven't got that Ulster medal and they were coming hard for us and the fact that we were able to withstand that and play some brilliant football was great.
"This year we were seven points up on two occasions and that game will be one when you are long gone out of the job, you would like to sit down again and watch.
"Mentally we had to go to the well and everybody stood up so well and that was a huge highlight."
However, unlike in his first stint as Donegal manager, McGuinness could not follow up back-to-back Ulster titles with an All-Ireland, just as he had done in 2012.
McGuinness conceded that they had shown the best version of themselves in this year's All-Ireland defeat to Kerry, but insisted they will learn lessons from that 10-point loss, which was marred by a first half injury to Ciaran Thompson
"We have had a lot of conversations since the final and we just did not bring our true colours and that is the reality of the situation," he added
"I think there is a lot of learning from that game for us and there is a lot of people to be right here that have a good idea now why the game was lost.
"And there are certainly things we want to work on and things we want to bring forward for next season and there is no sentiment in football.
"Kerry were at it, they took the game to us in the first quarter and we had a battle on our hands thereafter.
"We will take learnings from that game but we have a lot of talent and a lot of good fellows in our team and a lot of people who are very dedicated."
The Glenties man revealed that preparations are already underway for 2026 and to that end, says that he has identified 18 club players who will get an opportunity to impress during the Dr McKenna Cup in January.
He told those gathered for the Donegal GAA Awards that he is keen to cast the net wide across the county to bring new talent on board.
"If there is a player in your club that you think is good enough, we will be happy to take a look at them as well and we want to keep all the clubs moving forward and on side and if there is any talent out there, we will look at them," he said
"It is very important that there is an open conversation around talent.
"So, everybody has been so supportive, but we have a plan and get back on the horse.
"I think it is a good opportunity and we have identified 18 club players from the championship both at senior and intermediate level.
"There are a few fellows who are injured and there are fellows who are going to get an opportunity and Development Squad players who have done well so will use it as that and we will look to have a few friendly matches and look to get the McKenna Cup under our belt."
Donegal will once again face the cut and thrust of Division One football next season, where they will take on Ulster rivals Armagh and Monaghan as well as Dublin, Kerry, Mayo, Roscomomon and Galway
The provisional fixtures communicated to counties last week have handed Donegal a trip to Croke Park to take on Dublin in their opening game, with new manager Ger Brennan keen to get off to a winning start in front of a home crowd.
"They are all big games and going to Dublin for the first game in Croke Park will be special," McGuinness said.
"Dublin have a new manager, and they will bring a lot of energy and those are the games you want to get your teeth into.
"We have a lot of work to do, but it is important to celebrate our successes."