Declan Bonner, the Donegal manager, baulked at a suggestion last week that tomorrow’s ‘Super 8’ clash with Tyrone was a ‘real Ulster final’ – but Donegal will now have to navigate two mammoth Ulster hurdles if they are to reach the All-Ireland final.
At a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s win-or-bust game against Tyrone in Ballybofey, a reporter ventured that the game could be classed as an Ulster final.
“The Ulster final is over – and we won it,” Bonner barked back.
Donegal avoided Tyrone and Monaghan on their way to winning their ninth Ulster title in the summer – but there will be no getting away from them now.
After Monaghan defeated Tyrone in Omagh, the Farney were caught by a late Eoin Donnelly goal as Fermanagh pipped them in a semi-final.
With Tyrone and Monaghan in qualifiers, Donegal sauntered to an Ulster final win over Fermanagh.
Donegal and Tyrone fight it out tomorrow for a place in the All-Ireland semi-final. A draw will do Tyrone, but Donegal have to win at MacCumhaill Park – a venue at which they are 21 League and Championship games unbeaten.
An all-Ulster blockbuster is guaranteed with the winner of tomorrow’s Donegal-Tyrone clash set to face Monaghan in an All-Ireland semi-final next Sunday at Croke Park.
Monaghan swatted Galway aside this evening in Salthill to seal top spot in their group. Monaghan won 0-16 to 0-8 to seal a first semi-final berth in 30 years.
Galway, meanwhile, will take on Dublin in the first semi-final next Saturday. With Monaghan winning, Kerry are out in spite of a 3-25 to 2-16 win over Kildare in Killarney.
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