Monaghan’s U20 final postponed after Duffy tragedy

Galway and Mayo. The Ulster Council also took the decision yesterday to postpone the Ulster Under-20 final between Monaghan and Down until Friday week as a mark of respect to the late Brendan Óg Duffy, who was killed in a car accident while travelling home in the aftermath of the Farney County’s side semi-final win over Donegal.

The final had been due to take place this Saturday, but will now proceed at the Athletic Grounds on July 30, with a 7.30pm throw-in.

Meanwhile, the likely pairings for the business end of the All-Ireland hurling championship became clearer after yesterday’s second-round draw, which pitted Cork against Clare in an all-Munster clash, while Galway will go head-to-head with Waterford this Saturday.

If Galway win their game, they will automatically face Tipperary in the All-Ireland quarter-final, leaving Dublin facing the winners of the Cork-Clare game in the other quarter-final.

Where possible, repeat pairings are avoided in the All-Ireland series, which rules out Galway/Dublin and Clare/ Tipperary meeting in the last six.

Indeed, the only way that there can be a draw for the quarter-finals is if both Waterford and Cork advance from the second round.

Galway and Waterford have not met in the championship since the Tribesmen clinched the Liam MacCarthy with a 0-26 to 2-17 win in the 2007 final.

It is a first meeting in two years for Cork and Clare, with the Banner winning the round five Munster group fixture on a 2-23 to 2-18 scoreline in 2019. ÷WEEKEND FIXTURES SATURDAY: All-Ireland SHC qualifier round two: Galway v Waterford, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 2.00; Clare v Cork, LIT Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, 4.30 SUNDAY: Connacht SFC final: Galway v Mayo, 2.30; Munster SFC final: Kerry v Cork, Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, 4.00.