By Michael McMullan
THE game of the weekend in the Donegal Senior Football Championship will see champions Naomh Conaill host Glenswilly in the final round of action before the knock-out stages.
Of the 16 teams, the top four will advance straight to the quarter-finals with the bottom four fighting it off to avoid relegation
The eight teams in the middle will be drawn into four play-offs with the winners then advancing to complete the quarter-final line-up.
Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s battled out a draw before winning their games this weekend. Martin Regan’s side will be hoping for a victory when Glenswilly visit Davy Brennan Memorial Park.
After their promotion from Division Two, Pauric Bonner’s side have won all three games to date and have had Michael Murphy in the camp driving the standards all season. It’s hard to see Naomh Conaill giving up a grip on a guaranteed last four spot.
St Eunan’s will be fancied to book their place in the quarter-finals when they wear the favourites’ tag this weekend against St Michael’s at The Bridge.
There will be an interesting clash in Ballybofey with MacCumhaill’s entertaining league champions Kilcar who have a 100 per cent record so far in the championship.
MacCumhaills weren’t in action at the weekend with their Glenfin game postponed as a mark to respect following the death of Gareth Martin.
Aodh Ruadh, Ballyshannon are the other team to have won all three of their games and they’ll be expected to continued their winning run against Glenfin.
If all games involving the top teams go according to form, Glenswilly could be the team to miss out and be forced into the preliminary quarter-final round.
At the bottom of the table, Killybegs’ visit to St Naul’s is a battle to get out of the relegation places with both teams having lost all three of their games to date.
With five teams already on two points, a win is a must and score difference is going to come into play.
Milford need a win over Ardara and they’ll also need to work on their score difference to keep themselves out of the bottom four.
In the Intermediate Championship, Termon, Malin, Red Hughs and Buncrana are all guaranteed of their spot in the quarter-finals. The lineup will be determined by 1v8, 2 v7, 3v6 and 4v5 after the conclusion of the group stages this weekend.
Bundoran are currently outside the top eight but will be fancied to see off Naomh Bríd but they’ll need an impressive scoreline in with the potential of four teams finishing on four points.
In the Junior Championship, Na Rossa, Convoy and Naimh Conaill are the pacesetters with the final round of games down for decision.
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