Monaghan draw Donegal in qualifiers

Monaghan will have to bounce back quickly from yesterday's Ulster SFC final loss to Tyrone as they have been drawn to face National League champions Donegal in the third round of the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Monaghan lost to Wexford in the second round of last year's qualifiers and do not have the greatest of 'back door' records.

Donegal, fresh from their 1-13 to 1-8 defeat of Westmeath on Saturday, will fancy their chances of beating the Farney men with Colm McFadden back from suspension and a number of other players, including Brian Roper, possibly back in contention after injuries.

Laois, whose Leinster dreams were ended by Dublin, have been pitted against in-form Derry in the third round. Derry have knocked Armagh and Mayo out of the qualifiers over the past two weekends and have gathered plenty of momentum with ace forwards Paddy Bradley and Enda Muldoon back on form.

Both the Monaghan v Donegal and Laois v Derry matches are set to take place on Saturday week, July 28.

Next Saturday will see Galway and Meath lock horns in a repeat of the 2001 All-Ireland final, and Cork, beaten semi-finalists last year, will tussle with an improving Louth side that deservedly accounted for Kildare in the qualifiers' second round.

It will be the first championship meeting between Cork and Louth since 1957.

The dates, venues and throw-in times for the four third round matches will be confirmed later today.

Meanwhile, the draw for the All-Ireland SHC semi-finals has also taken place and it has paired the winners of the Galway/Kilkenny quarter-final with Tipperary or Wexford.

The other last-four clash will be an all-Munster affair as Waterford or Cork will face off against either Limerick or Clare.

All-Ireland SFC third round Qualifier draw:

Monaghan v Donegal

Laois v Derry

Galway v Meath

Cork v Louth

All-Ireland SHC semi-final draw:

Galway or Kilkenny v Tipperary or Wexford

Waterford or Cork v Limerick or Clare.