Ulster heavyweights Donegal and Tyrone have been drawn against each other in next year’s provincial quarter-final.
In what is the most intriguing pairing of all those made in this week’s draws, Mickey Harte’s side will have to go to Ballybofey to open their Championship campaign against the reigning champions, who dumped them out at the semi-final stage this year.
The two counties have won the last four Ulster Championships between them and 10 out of the last 13 in total.
It’s the third time since 2013 that they have been paired in their opening game, with Donegal winning in Ballybofey in 2013 and ‘15, though Tyrone managed to snatch a win there in last year’s ‘Super 8s’ to reach the All-Ireland semi-final at Donegal’s expense.
The winners of the Donegal-Tyrone tie will then play either Derry or Armagh in the semi-final.
Former Tyrone captain Sean Cavanagh commented: “There’s no getting away from the fact that it’s a most difficult tie and to head to Ballybofey, we haven’t had much joy up there.
“The guys won up there in the ‘Super 8s’ but other than that, in the last 10, 15, 20 years it’s an incredibly difficult place to go but look, that’s what you get with the Ulster Championship.
“Tyrone has a few changes in the backroom as well and there’s a lot of time between now and next May or June, whenever these ties are going to happen, but for sure Donegal and Tyrone would, on paper, look to be the two strongest teams in Ulster at the moment and to be drawn together in the first round is certainly going to be a huge game.
“But you have to look as well at the fact that Tyrone have used the back door quite well in recent years as well so all is not gone even if things don’t go well that day up in Ballybofey.”
The fact that two of the province’s three Division One teams have been drawn against each other presents an opportunity for the rest though 2013 and ‘15 champions Monaghan have been handed a difficult preliminary round tie against Cavan, who beat them in this year’s competition.
Monaghan will enjoy home advantage in Seamus McEnaney’s first Championship back in charge, however, and the winners will be expected to get past Division Four Antrim in the next round.
On the same side of the draw are Fermanagh and Down, who will get their campaign underway at Brewster Park.
2020 Ulster SFC
Preliminary round: Monaghan v Cavan.
Quarter-finals: Donegal v Tyrone, Derry v Armagh, Fermanagh v Down, Monaghan/Cavan v Antrim.
Semi-finals: Donegal/Tyrone v Derry/Armagh, Fermanagh/Down v Monaghan/Cavan/Antrim.
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