Ulster sides could have a big say in Sam’s destination

SIX teams remain in the hunt for Sam Maguire — half the field hailing from Ulster. And while two more teams will, this weekend, join Roscommon and Kildare in falling at the quarterfinal hurdle, that percentage may well remain unchanged come tomorrow evening. With three Division 1 Ulster sides left in the running it hardly seems beyond the realm of possibility that one of them might just go on and win it all. Yet that’s exactly what the bookies seem to think with no northern county in the top half of the market. Frontrunners Dublin and Galway have already booked their semi-final places, with four teams left fighting it out over the last two spots. One of those spots will be taken by Tyrone or Donegal — making them both great eachway value at 12s and 16s, respectively, to reach the final. They will meet in Ballybofey tomorrow in a straight shootout for a last-four place. However, a draw will be enough to see the Red Hands through due to their superior scoring difference, and with the bookies unable to separate the pair at even money, a stalemate looks like the best value around this weekend. A draw would also do for the third Ulster county still in contention — Monaghan 7/4 outsiders to get a win that would see them top the group in Pearse Stadium. The Farney men have had two weeks now to recover from David Clifford’s lastgasp equalising goal in Clones, a score that snatched qualification from their grasp. And that extra week may prove vital as they go to Galway knowing that their fate is still in their own hands. Kerry, on the other hand, will have to beat Kildare by five points or more and hope that Galway do them a favour. Yet the Kingdom remain third at 9/1 in the betting to win the whole thing out, which seems a little odd. Monaghan are the last team to beat Dublin in a competitive football match — achieving that feat in Croke Park this season no less. Something both Donegal and Tyrone have failed to do — and something Kerry have managed just once since 2009. And while Galway lead the chasing pack as 6/1 second favourites, whichever of the Ulster counties survives the longest may yet have something to say about the final destination of the Sam Maguire.