Stipulations: How Donegal can reach the McKenna Cup semis or top the group

After the second round of McKenna Cup fixtures were played on Wednesday night, Donegal now know what they need to do in order to make the semi-final of the competition and to top the group.

Donegal’s opening game with Derry, fixed for O’Donnell Park last Sunday, was called off due to safety and road travel conditions and with weather conditions not improving, it was not deemed practical to rearrange the game as both teams were awarded one point each.

With that, the round two fixtures took place on Wednesday night, with Derry defeating Antrim by 2-16 to 0-7 in Owenbeg in the other game of Section C.

That leaves Derry on a points difference of +15, meaning that Donegal will have to defeat the Saffrons in Cargin by 16 to guarantee top spot in the group and an automatic place in the semi-finals.

If they don’t do that, it gets a bit trickier, although a win should almost certainly guarantee a spot in the semi-final regardless.

Section A has plenty to play for this Sunday as Tyrone host Down in Pomeroy.

The Red Hands beat Armagh by 2-13 to 0-17 in the Athletic Grounds on Sunday, while Armagh defeated Down by 3-10 to 0-10 at the same venue on Wednesday night.

It leaves Down on zero points and needing to win by six to overtake Tyrone on points difference, as all three teams would finish on two points, meaning Armagh would win the group.

No team in Section A can come second with more than two points however, so a Donegal win would take them to three points and would be a better placed second place.

Section B will see Monaghan host Fermanagh in Castleblayney, with both teams posting narrow wins over Cavan.

The Farney men won by 0-16 to 0-13 on Sunday, while Declan Bonner’s side beat the Breffni men by 1-12 to 1-10 in Tempo on Wednesday night.

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A win for either side leaves the second place also on two points, but a draw in this game would see both teams end on three points, the same as Donegal if they were to beat Antrim.

The draw would mean that Fermanagh finish second with a score difference of +2, so if Donegal win by three points or more in Toombridge, then they will finish second in the group and reach the semi-final.

In plain terms, a Donegal win by three will secure a semi-final spot, while a win of 16 or more will see them top the group.