Kevin McStay: Fresh faces guarantee exciting All-Ireland conclusion

Kevin McStay has said that the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship could be set for a special conclusion given that an outsider is guaranteed to be in this year's final following the quarter-final draw.

The last eight pairings have put three Division 2 counties, Derry, Clare and Galway, on one side along with Armagh, with the big two of Dublin and Kerry set for a semi-final clash should they overcome Cork and Mayo respectively.

Armagh, who face Galway, were the last county on their side of the draw to reach a final back in 2003 when they lost to Tyrone. The Tribesmen were there two years previously, beating the Orchard County en-route to their ninth success.

Derry’s last appearance was their sole Sam Maguire triumph in 1993 while the Banner, who meet the Ulster champions, have been in one final previously, a 1917 loss to Wexford.

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"One of Galway, Armagh, Derry and Clare will play in this year’s All-Ireland final," McStay told the RTÉ GAA podcast.

"That’s the big takeaway from the draw. That’s fantastic, that’s a fresh face one way or the other.

"Right now, you’d probably say the favourite would be the winner of the Galway-Armagh game with Derry a dangerous opposition lurking there somewhere."

McStay believes the quarter-finals will see provincial champions Derry, Dublin and Kerry copper-fasten their All-Ireland credentials, but he believes that the clash of Connacht champions Galway and Armagh is the main chance of a qualifier success story.

"Armagh definitely of the four to emerge