Gareth McKinless of Derry in action against Jordan Flynn of Mayo during the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final in Castlebar
And then there were nine. Galway, Roscommon and Derry all booked their tickets to the last eight of the All-Ireland SFC following their preliminary quarter-final wins today - and all three can play Donegal.
In the last of the preliminary quarter-finals, Louth welcome Cork to Inniskeen tomorrow and are aiming to join today's trio, as well as the four group winners - Armagh, Dublin, Donegal and Kerry - who gained direct passage.
So, from Donegal's perspective, they can play Galway, Roscommon and Derry, and Louth if they win against Cork tomorrow, in the quarters next weekend at Croke Park. That draw will take place on Monday morning.
Galway overcame Monaghan 0-14 to 0-11 at Pearse Stadium, having led 0-6 to 0-5 at half-time. Monaghan had the wind in the first half and Galway lost Shane Walsh through injury. With Damien Comer coming in, Padraig Joyce's team came through in the end, winning by three points, with Rob Finnerty top-scoring with five. Monaghan's Conor McManus announced his retirement from inter-county football afterwards.
Meanwhile, at Healy Park, Roscommon toppled Tyrone in the surprise of the day 0-14 to 0-12. The Connacht side were impressive in the first half, with Donie Smith and Diarmuid Murtagh on the scoresheet, to go in 0-9 to 0-3 ahead at the break. Tyrone kicked eight first-half sides Roscommon's one.
In a bid to save their season, Tyrone threw on Conn Kilpatrick - whose red card against Cork was overturned on Friday night by the Central Appeals Committee, Peter Harte and debutant Eoin McElholm, a star of the Red Hands' U-20 All-Ireland success. Tyrone got back to just a point down, helped by Darren McCurry's five points, but Daire Cregg sealed the away win.
At MacHale Park, Mayo and Derry ended up 2-12 to 0-15 after extra-time, with Mickey Harte's side winning the shoot-out 4-3 after Odhran Lynch saved from Ryan O’Donoghue and Conor Doherty scored the winner.
Derry were much the better side in the first half and went in 0-6 to 0-3 in front, only for Mayo to dominate the third quarter and managed to get ahead 1-8 to 0-9 with O’Donoghue beating Lynch from the penalty spot. However, Derry levelled in the fourth minute of injury time with Chrissy McKeague the scorer to force extra-time at 1-8 to 0-11. Derry were again the ones pushing the case and although they got two in front when Shane McGuigan scored six minutes from the end, Mayo levelled through Jordan Flynn
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