Mac's View: Croke Park once more for Donegal in the quarter-finals

Congratulations to Jim McGuinness and his merry men, they have brought us back to Croke Park and I’m really looking forward to that on the last weekend in June. We don’t know yet whether it’s on the Saturday or Sunday and we don’t know who will be meeting either, but it doesn’t matter, we are there.

We do know that there will be a lot of big teams in the other bowl for the draw next Monday morning with Mayo and Galway likely to be among them. It will be a tough game no matter who we draw.

On Saturday last we had it easy against a very disappointing Clare team, who, to be fair, didn’t have much to play for. But at the same time they were poor. In saying that we gave a masterful display of scoretaking. Putting 2-23 on the scoreboard is a brave score.

There were so many great individual performances throughout the team but you have to mention Ryan McHugh, hitting 1-4 from half-back. It was a very good all-round display.

And then our neighbours, Tyrone, did us a huge favour in taking care of the men from the south, Cork. I think they were always going to win that game but it was close up to the Cork full-forward getting a black card.

Jim and the boys as well as the supporters can put their feet up this weekend and watch what unfolds in the four preliminary quarter-finals, with no back door left for the defeated sides.

The big game is in Castlebar on Saturday evening when Mayo entertain Derry. This is a tight one to call because we really don’t know what Derry team will turn up. I gather from sources that Mayo were very disappointed at not getting through against Dublin last week, Cormac Costello getting Dublin a draw in the final play. They put a lot of energy into that game and were hoping to get the two week break.

At the moment it is very hard to call what Derry will turn up with. They have been on a poor run of form but should have everybody back. But with home advantage I have to fancy Mayo to make that county.

Galway have Monaghan in Pearse Stadium in Salthill and the one thing about Monaghan is that they will always give of their best. But I’m thinking Galway will have too much. Hopefully, they will have Damien Comer back, but even without him they should have beaten Armagh. Their goalkeeper, who was their hero in the Connacht final, gifted Armagh four points.

Still Galway are a very strong side and I expect them to be in the last eight draw.

Tyrone take on Roscommon in Healy Park and I expect that they will make that home advantage pay. Roscommon have good forwards but won’t have enough to trouble Tyrone.

The final game is on Sunday with Louth taking on Cork in Inniskeen. It is a tight wee pitch but I would still fancy Cork but they will need to have forwards Hurley and Powter available.

There is an exciting week also in the Tailteann Cup with the semi-finals taking place. It was great to see that they are getting their day out on Sunday in Croke Park. I fancy Laois and Down to come through. Laois are a very good side and have overcome some big teams in Offaly and Kildare. I know Antrim surprised Fermanagh last week but Laois might have too much for them.

In the other game Down take on Sligo, who put up a big score against Limerick last weekend. There has been a lot of work done at underage in Sligo, but this Down team are probably a step too far for Sligo. They lost the Tailteann Cup final last year to Meath and will be hoping to make up for that this year. It might be close but I’m tipping Down to shade it.

The Ladies Championship continues this weekend also and Donegal have a very long trip south for their game on Sunday  against Waterford. I gather the game is on TG4 so we will be tuning in. Waterford lost out to Kerry heavily last week but they will fancy themselves at home. The long journey south might militate against Donegal but if they can get a performance similar to  their draw with Kerry in MacCumhaill Park,  they should be good enough to get the result, which would put them into the knockout stages.

Finally, this week condolences to the Coyle family on the sudden death of Paul. I would have known him through Jim Carty, who would have had him from underage up through the ranks in Fermanagh and at Devenish. Bundoran would have played Devenish in challenge games also and Paul was a fine player and a fine person.

He would have been on the Fermanagh team that played us in 1992 and he gave us a lot of trouble in the first half. He must have five senior championships with Devenish. My sympathy to his wife and family and all the Coyle family. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell