Donegal will open their Ulster SFC defence with home quarter-final

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness, left, and Down manager Conor Laverty shake hands after the Ulster SFC final match in Clones last season

placeholder image — Donegal manager Jim McGuinness, left, and Down manager Conor Laverty shake hands after the Ulster SFC final match in Clones last season

The side managed by Jim McGuinness was drawn at home to Down in the last eight, with the team that advances due to face Armagh, Tyrone or Fermanagh in the semi-finals

Donegal's quest to win their first-ever three-in-a-row in the Ulster SFC will begin with a clash against Down.

The side managed by Jim McGuinness was drawn at home to the Mournemen in the quarter-finals, with the team that advances due to face Armagh, Tyrone or Fermanagh in the semi-finals.

Armagh take on Tyrone in the preliminary round, with the team that advances taking on Declan Bonner's Fermanagh in the last eight. Also in the quarter-finals, Derry will welcome Antrim, and Monaghan are at home to Cavan, with the winners of those two ties facing one another in the last four.

Each of the sides drawn in the preliminary round in the last two seasons - Cavan, Derry, Donegal and Monaghan - were exempt from entering at that same stage, with Ciaran Thompson helping to conduct the draw.

Donegal have won the title 12 times, in 1972, 1974, 1983, 1990, 1992, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2024 and last season. Manager Jim McGuinness has won five Ulster crowns from his six seasons in charge of Donegal.

Last season Donegal overcame Down 1-19 to 0-16 in the Ulster SFC semi-final in Clones on their way to the final, where they defeated Armagh 2-23 to 0-28 after extra-time before reaching the All-Ireland final, only to lose 1-26 to 0-19 against Kerry.

Donegal's two previous two attempts at three successive provincial titles ended in defeat in the Ulster SFC final, against Monaghan in 2013 and then Cavan in 2020. The Ulster CCC will release fixtures, which will take place in April, in due course.