Donegal GAA: 'Regrettable' that formal request for Sunday quarter-final was turned down

Donegal have just six days to recover from their preliminary quarter-final for their quarter-final against Monaghan. 

Donegal defeated Louth on Sunday in an All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final. Pic: ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty

Donegal GAA say they "formally requested a Sunday fixture" for this weekend's All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals rather than one on Saturday.

Donegal were drawn against Monaghan on Monday morning with the fixture set by the CCCC for 4pm on Saturday at Croke Park. That gives them just six days to recover from their victory over Louth, less time than any of the other three sides who emerged from the preliminary quarter-finals. Dublin and Galway will have have a seven-day turnaround while for Kerry, it will be eight days.

"No other county has played as many matches as Donegal in this year's championship," said a Donegal GAA spokesperson.

"To compound the physical and mental demands, those eight games have been played within an 11 week window. Match number nine comes this Saturday, less than 12 weeks after playing Derry in the Ulster Championship Preliminary round on April 6th.

"On that basis, we thought it wholly reasonable and fully justified to seek an extra day recovery time for our players this weekend.

"Coiste Chontae Dhun na nGall concludes that it is most regrettable, and very disappointing, that our request has been turned down. We feel the welfare of our players was not adequately considered in the decision making process."