Jim McGuinness: “It’s a great draw for the supporters and I would feel myself it’s a great draw for the players”
BY CHRIS MCNULTY
DONEGAL’S mouth-watering All-Ireland quarter-final against Kerry has been given the prime slot next weekend.
The game will take place at Croke Park on Sunday, August 5th, at 4pm.
Donegal-Kerry has been handed that prime TV slot on Sunday afternoon as the main show in a triple bill of action at GAA Headquarters.
It is preceded by the quarter-final meeting of Cork and Kildare, which takes place at 2pm, with Roscommon and Kerry minors in a minor quarter-final at 12 noon.
The fixtures were confirmed by the Central Competitions Controls Committee (CCCC) at a meeting in Thurles this evening and follows the draw for the quarter-finals which took place last night.
Donegal had initially been drawn alongside Down, but as they met in last weekend’s Ulster final they couldn’t meet again. The other ties were already confirmed, leaving Donegal with only one possible opponent – Kerry.
“It’s the type of draw players in the squad would’ve been looking forward to their whole careers,” said Donegal manager Jim McGuinness.
“Kerry in Croke Park in the championship is something that has never happened before and it’s something we can look forward to.
“Kerry have huge pedigree and will be very hard to beat.
“It’s a great draw for the supporters and I would feel myself it’s a great draw for the players as it’s something they’ve never experienced before in championship.
“It’ll be something special and you’d imagine there would be a huge Donegal support travelling up for it and it should make for a huge occasion.”
Neil Gallagher has resumed light jogging, but remains in a fitness race for the game, but Martin O’Reilly is closing in on a return. Elsewhere, Karl Lacey was to sit out training in Convoy yesterday, but will be ok for Sunday, while a head cold prevented Ryan Bradley taking an active part in training.
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