MacHale Park confirmed for Donegal’s All-Ireland series clash with Clare 

Donegal will go to MacHale Park, Castlebar for their final All-Ireland group phase clash with Clare. 

Jim McGuinness’ side will take on The Banner County at the Mayo venue on Saturday week, June 15, with a 3pm throw-in confirmed. The game will not be shown live on TV or on GAAGO. 

Donegal lost to Cork on Sunday and it’’s a result that’s opened up the section. 

Tyrone's 3-14 to 0-10 win over Clare means the lie of the land is much clearer in Group 3 of the All-Ireland SFC.

Donegal defeated the side managed by Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan 0-21 to 0-14 in Ballybofey to open their campaign, before going down to Cork on a 3-9 to 0-16 scoreline on Saturday. Cork started off with a 1-13 to 1-11 win over Clare in Ennis.

So the weekend after next, it's neutral venues for Donegal's clash with Clare (Castlebar) and the meeting of Cork and Tyrone (Tullamore or Portlaoise). The matches will be played simultaneously.

The group winner will qualify directly for the quarter-finals, with the second-placed sides getting home advantage against the third-placed teams in the preliminary quarter-finals, which will be played the following weekend, June 22/23.

Head-to-head is the prime differential if two teams finish level on points. If three teams do, it's score difference first; then highest total points for; then goals scored and if all else fails, a play-off.

Donegal beat Clare and Cork win/draw with Tyrone

If Cork pick up anything from their clash with Tyrone they will win the group. So if Donegal win against Clare they will be guaranteed second place.

Donegal beat Clare and Tyrone win against Cork

If Tyrone beat Cork and Donegal get the better of Clare, it means Tyrone, Cork and Donegal will be all on four points, and will be separated by score difference. At the minute Cork are +4, Donegal in second are +5 and Tyrone are +7, with Clare on -16. Therefore, Donegal will have to beat Clare by three points more than Tyrone defeat Cork, to rubberstamp top-spot.

Donegal lose to Clare

If Clare beat Donegal, they will also possess the winning head-to-head, which will leave both teams on two points. Therefore, Clare will want Tyrone to pick up at least a draw against Cork to seal third place in the group and Donegal would be out. If Clare and Cork win their last fixtures, Donegal, Tyrone and Clare will all end up on two points, so score difference will decide who finishes second, third and fourth, with Cork winning the group.

Donegal draw with Clare

A draw will mean the end for Clare, with a point taking Donegal onto three, which will be enough for a preliminary quarter-final. If this is coupled with a Cork win, it will mean second-place finish for Donegal; a draw in both fixtures will also be enough for Donegal to edge Tyrone into second-place with both teams ending up on three points and Donegal winning the head-to-head.

Meanwhile, Jim McGuinness says his side will have to review Sunday's loss to Cork as they immediately turn attention to Clare in a fortnight's time.

The Donegal boss said conceding three goals meant his team didn’t deserve to take anything from their second group match in the All-Ireland series.

Donegal went down 3-9 to 0-16 at Páirc Uí Rinn, with goals from Matty Taylor, Rory Maguire and Sean Powter proving vital for Cork.

Although McGuinness’s team did come from five down to level late on, it was the Leesiders who got over the line.

“They are very strong and very powerful and very direct and they made those transitional moments count,” the Donegal manager said. “Cork are a good, strong, well-conditioned running team and they asked a lot of questions.

“We would normally have the answers to those moments but we didn’t have them today. Conceding three goals, you’re not going to win a game, you don’t deserve to win a game when you concede three goals in championship football. It was difficult for us. Conceding three goals just can’t happen at this level.

“Cork were very good on their own kick-outs. Most of their kick-outs go long and they are prepared to go 50-50 and they are very well coached in that regard and they can find a way to come up with a lot of those breaking balls. And when they do, they go direct again in the transitional moments so they asked a lot of questions of us.”