Ulster SFC draw pairs Jim McGuinness against Mickey Harte

Derry and Donegal have been drawn to meet each other in next year's Ulster SFC, with respective managers Mickey Harte and Jim McGuinness facing off at the quarter-final stage following the draw on RTÉ Radio's Saturday Sport.

The Derry board made a surprise announcement in September with the news that the Harte would be succeeding Ciarán Meenagh in the role.

The legendary Tyrone manager spent three seasons with Louth, guiding the county to back-to-back promotions which took them to Division 2, where they finished third last season. He was on board to manage the Wee County again in 2024 before the current provincial champions came calling.

Jim McGuinness made a sensational return to inter-county management after being confirmed as the new Donegal senior football manager in August.

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McGuinness, who first managed his county from 2010 to 2014 and guided them to All-Ireland glory in 2012, has been appointed for a three-year term, with the option for a fourth year.

Elsewhere in the Ulster draw, Monaghan were drawn to face Cavan in the preliminary round, with Tyrone facing the winners in the last-eight. One of that trio will face either Derry or Donegal in the semis.

The remaining quarter-finals sees Down at home to Antrim, while Fermanagh will host Armagh.

RTÉ GAA analyst Enda McGinley believes that we could be set for a classic provincial championship in the most northerly province given those big managerial moves in the off-season.

"Mickey Harte v Jim McGuinness, the second