Explainer: What Donegal need to progress in the All-Ireland SFC

Donegal’s 3-26 to 1-13 win over Cavan put Jim McGuinness’ side back on top of Group 1 of the All-Ireland SFC round-robin - but they’ll need a helping hand to stay there.

All four sides are currently on two points, having won one and lost one each, with all four victories coming away from home.

All four teams can still win the group, and all four can come last. Prior to Donegal’s 19-point win at Breffni, Tyrone were 2-17 to 0-20 victors in Ballybofey. Cavan opened with a 1-17 to 1-14 success in Castlebar against Mayo and then Mayo came good at Healy Park, to defeat Tyrone 2-17 to 1-14.

In the last set of fixtures, Donegal take on Mayo and Tyrone are down to play Cavan. Those games will be played simultaneouslytoday at 4pm in Roscommon and Enniskillen, respectively. 

The group winners go straight into the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals on the weekend of June 28/29, with the second-placed teams getting home advantage against the third-placed finishers the week before, on June 21/22, in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals, with the team who finish last getting eliminated. The group winners are seeded for the last eight draw, taking on the teams who come through the preliminaries.

A second-placed team cannot play a third-placed team from their own group and provincial final clashes are intended to be avoided in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final. Basically, if Tyrone beat Cavan, then Donegal cannot win the group.

If Donegal win and Tyrone win

Although Donegal have the strongest of the points difference, it only comes into play if they draw with Mayo - will explain later! Should Donegal overcome the Westerners and Tyrone see off Cavan, it means that by virtue of Tyrone’s win in Ballybofey, they will top the group. Donegal will come second and Cavan will finish third, having won in Castlebar. 1st Tyrone 4 points; 2nd Donegal 4 points; 3rd Cavan 2 points; 4th Mayo 2 points

If Donegal win and Cavan win

Should Donegal and Cavan win, it would mean both teams end up on four points and Donegal would top the group, having won the head-to-head with Cavan. That would leave Tyrone and Mayo on two points apiece, with Mayo finishing third as a result of their win in Omagh. 1st Donegal 4 points; 2nd Cavan 4 points; 3rd Mayo 2 points; 4th Tyrone 2 points

If Donegal win and Tyrone-Cavan draw

This would also work for Donegal, taking them onto four points and clear group winners. The fact Tyrone and Cavan would draw and therefore have a matched head-to-head means their score difference would remain as it is now, so Tyrone would come second and Mayo third, both on three points. Mayo would be eliminated. 1st Donegal 4 points; 2nd Tyrone 3 points; 3rd Cavan 3 points; 4th Mayo 2 points

If Donegal-Mayo and Tyrone-Cavan both draw

This scenario would leave the status quo in the group and leave all four teams tied on three points, so score difference would be used. So Donegal would come top, Mayo second, Tyrone third and Cavan would be out. 1st Donegal 3 points; 2nd Mayo 3 points; 3rd Tyrone 3 points; 4th Mayo 3 points

If Mayo win and Tyrone win

Wins for Mayo and Tyrone would leave them both in the top two on four points, with Mayo having the advantage of the head-to-head. That would leave Tyrone second and Donegal would finish third ahead of Cavan - with both on two - having won at Breffni Park. 1st Mayo 4 points; 2nd Tyrone 4 points; 3rd Donegal 2 points 4th Cavan 2 points

If Mayo win and Cavan win

Wins for Mayo and Cavan would see both move onto four, with Cavan taking top spot on the head-to-head. Then, Tyrone and Donegal would end up on two apiece, with Malachy O’Rourke’s team taking third having won in Ballybofey, therefore eliminating Donegal. 1st Cavan 4 points; 2nd Mayo 4 points; 3rd Tyrone - 2 points; 4th Donegal 2 points

If Mayo win and Tyrone-Cavan draw

Another scenario that would leave Donegal bottom, on two points. Mayo would take top with four and tied on three points, Tyrone’s score difference would be enough to take second and Cavan would have to be content with third. 1st Mayo 4 points; 2nd Tyrone 3 points; 3rd Cavan 3 points; 4th Donegal 2 points