How Sigerson Cup impacts Derry and Donegal availabilities ahead of tomorrow night 

Former Donegal boss Declan Bonner admits he was unaware of any new guidelines in relation to Sigerson Cup and intercounty player crossovers.  

Indeed, the Ernemen, Cavan and Armagh were all sanctioned last week after it emerged that the three counties had fielded Sigerson Cup-listed players during midweek group matches.

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Fermanagh thought they’d earned an opening win over Cavan but the result was eventually declared null and void after confirmation that both teams had in fact fielded ineligible players.

Armagh also had their wrists slapped with their win over Down being reversed and the Mourne men instead picking up the two points. 

So ahead of the semi-finals this week, there is no doubt, Derry, Donegal, Monaghan and Tyrone will pay much closer attention to the new guidelines - introduced to help curb player burnout. 

Coincidentally, the McKenna Cup has also allowed for no limitations on substitutions and matches played over 60 instead of 70 minutes. 

But the rule that previous counties fell foul of was that “players engaged in mid-week third level fixtures are ineligible for midweek intercounty fixtures”. 

Prior to tomorrow evening’s encounter between Jim McGuinness’ Donegal and Ciaran Meenagh’s Oak Leafers, the hosts will not be allowed to use Eoin McEvoy, Charlie Diamond (UU), Donnacha Gilmore (UCD), Antoin Tohill, Dan Higgins, Ruairi Forbes and Conall Higgins (Queen’s University). 

Donegal, on the other hand, are getting away quite lightly with only Seanán Carr (DCU) unavailable due to Sigerson Cup duty. 

The Four Masters man was sprung for the last quarter of an hour away to Antrim at the weekend and landed three points.