ROSCOMMON’S VICTORY OVER Galway in this afternoon’s Connacht final means Donegal know their fate for Round 4A of the qualifiers.
With Donegal and Mayo having won their respective Round 3A ties yesterday at Meath and Clare respectively, Galway’s 2-15 to 0-12 loss today means they and Cork would be the possible opponents.
Photo caption:Â Part of the large crowd in Navan on Saturday where Donegal overcame Meath in Round3A of the All-Ireland football championship qualifiers. Photo Evan Logan
But seeing as Galway have already played and beaten Mayo in the championship, they cannot meet again at this stage so Mayo will therefore face Munster runners-up Cork, leaving Donegal to face Galway on Saturday, July 22, and venues are to be confirmed, although Croke Park is not available as U2 are to play there.
Donegal played the Tribesmen in the 2003 All-Ireland quarter-final replay in Castlebar – after a drawn match in Dublin – and six years later came through a fourth round qualifier against the same opposition in Sligo. Galway defeated Donegal in both the 1974 and 1983 All-Ireland semi-finals at Croke Park.
Most recently, in Rory Gallagher’s first season in charge, Donegal beat Galway 3-12 to 0-11 in a Round 4B qualifier at Croke Park in 2015. Patrick McBrearty, Ryan McHugh and Christy Toye were the goalscorers.
Whoever comes through those two fixtures on Saturday week – both of which will be screened no Sky Sports – will then be drawn from the hat if needs be – to play either Kerry or Roscommon in the All-Ireland quarter-finals on the weekend of July 29/30 at Croke Park.
Michael Lundy was given a straight red in today’s final for Galway and will be suspended. Damien Comer was also sent off for his part in a late scuffle, although in his case it was for a second yellow card.
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