D-DAY FOR THE DUBS

Lose to Derry and Farrell's boys likely out

- BY KARL O'KANE

KNOCKOUT Championship football has come earlier than Dessie Farrell would have liked - but he's hoping it brings the best out of his Dublin side this weekend.

It's a simple enough equation for Dublin. Draw against Derry in Newry and they'll survive, going forward into an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.

Lose and they're out, unless Armagh - who have already qualified top of the group and have nothing to play for - draw with or beat Galway.

A Dublin win would also secure a home tie in the prelim-inary quarter-finals and mean they'd be playing a third placed side at Croke Park in the last 12.

Bar Group 1, which has Tyrone, Donegal, Mayo and Cavan, this would certainly be negotiable for Dublin and set up an All-Ireland quarter-final with a group winner.

This would mean any of the four from Group 1, Kerry or Meath (Group 2), Monaghan or Down (Group 3) and Armagh (Group 4). But Dublin's inconsistency means a schedule of what is essentially three knockout games in a fortnight to make an All-Ireland semi-final is a dangerous prospect.

Finishing third and going away to a second-placed side in the preliminary quarter-finals would add another layer of difficulty.

But Dublin's focus this week has to be on a Derry side who will be anxious to back up their best performance of the season, against Galway 11 days ago.

Paddy Tally's side still haven't won this year in 10 games but they looked to have the bit between their teeth again in front of their home fans.

That intensity they brought, led by Niall Loughlin and Conor Glass, will have to be replicated again this weekend. If it is, this is a dangerous tie for Dublin.

"We're into knockout football at this stage and that was always coming," said Farrell.