Donegal handed the toughest possible draw in All-Ireland series

Donegal will open their All-Ireland series with a fixture against All-Ireland champions Kerry.

The side managed by Jim McGuinness was defeated 3-21 to 1-21 by Down in the Ulster SFC quarter-final and knew ahead of the draw they would be on the road, with only the eight provincial finalists guaranteed home fixtures.

Donegal will face the Kingdom on the weekend of May 23/24. The rest of the draw sees Dublin welcome Louth; Cork are at home to Meath; Monaghan will face Mayo; Westmeath take on Cavan; Galway have an appointment with Kildare and Armagh Derry, while Roscommon are due to clash with Tyrone.

Kerry defeated Donegal 1-26 to 0-19 to win Sam Maguire last July, although Donegal have won the two meetings since, 1-22 to 1-18 in the National League Division 1 in Ballyshannon, and again in the final at Croke Park, 3-20 to 2-10.

It will be the fifth ever championship meeting of the sides, with Kerry having won both last year’s and the 2014 All-Ireland final. There was a draw in the Super Eights in 2019 at Croke Park, and Donegal won the 2012 All-Ireland quarter-final 1-12 to 1-10.

Westmeath, managed by Donegal’s 2012 All-Ireland winner Mark McHugh from Kilcar, beat Kildare in an epic 1-21 to 0-23 Leinster semi-final to set up a final in two weeks against Dublin, who toppled holders Louth 0-20 to 0-10.

In Ulster, Armagh were comfortable 3-33 to 0-14 semi-final winners over Down, putting up a record score in the Ulster SFC in the process and Monaghan came through an unbelievable last four tie against Derry, 1-30 to 3-23 in extra-time.

Round 1 of the All-Ireland series will take place on two weekends: May 23/24 and May 30/31. The finalists from the Munster and Connacht provincial finals will play their Round 1 games on May 23/24, and the finalists from Ulster and Leinster will play their Round 1 games on May 30/31.

Eight Round 1 winners advance to Round 2A, with the losers going to Round 2B. The four Round 2A winners will qualify directly for the All-Ireland quarter-final stage. Round 2A losers will meet Round 2B winners in Round 3, which is the last 12, the preliminary quarter-finals.

Basically, two wins from two means a direct passage to the All-Ireland SFC quarters, one win from either of the two means a preliminary quarter-final and two defeats and it’s all over.

ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW

Tags: