THE SUPER 8 picture is now clear and Donegal will open their quarter-final group phase against Meath next Sunday in Ballybofey.
Declan Bonner’s men will face the Royals, who edged Clare 2-16 to 1-18 in a titanic tussle at Portlaoise this afternoon.
Donegal are grouped with Meath, Kerry and Mayo in the Super 8s.
Next Sunday’s game at Sean MacCumhaill Park will be the third meeting of Donegal and Meath this year.
In Ballybofey in Division 2, a Caolan McGonagle goal fired Donegal to a 1-13 to 0-14 win.
They also met in the Division 2 final, when an inspired Michael Murphy performance and a Jamie Brennan goal gave Donegal a 1-17 to 1-15 triumph after they fell eight points behind.
This afternoon, Meath edged out Clare in a round 4 qualifier.
The sides were level 1-9 to 0-12 at half-time with midfielder Bryan Menton riffling in a goal for Meath late in the first half.
Three minutes into the second half, Gavin Cooney hit the net for Clare, but Meath responded instantly as Mickey Newman – who ended with 1-6 – netted.
Clare stayed right on the trail, but Meath were able to, just, stave them off.
Donegal will face Kerry at Croke Park Sunday, July 21, in their second Super 8 fixture.
The group phase comes to a close when Declan Bonner’s men head for a potentially-decisive joust with Mayo in Castlebar on the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Details for that fixture – which brings Donegal coach Stephen Rochford head-to-head with his native county, whom he led to successive All-Ireland final appearances – have yet to be confirmed.
Tags:SUPER 8 FIXTURES
Group 1
Sunday July 14
Donegal v Meath, MacCumhaill Park, 2pm
Kerry v Mayo, Fitzgerald Stadium, 4pm
Sunday July 21
Mayo v Meath, Croke Park, 2pm
Kerry v Donegal, Croke Park, 4pm
August 3/4
Meath v Kerry, Navan
Mayo v Donegal, MacHale Park
Group 2
Saturday July 13
Roscommon v Tyrone, Dr Hyde Park, 5pm
Dublin v Cork, Croke Park, 7pm
Saturday July 20
Cork v Tyrone, Croke Park, 5pm
Dublin v Roscommon, Croke Park, 7pm
August 3/4
Cork v Roscommon, Cork
Tyrone v Dublin, Healy Park
