Ulster SFC Quarter-final Armagh v Donegal: There is a quality to post-match reaction after a draw. Relief isn't quite as soothing and disappointment not quite as sharp. For a team short a man for nearly half an hour, Donegal could count themselves lucky but they knew that they could have been even luckier.

"We let it slip," said manager Brian McEniff afterwards. "I felt we should have posted a couple of points when they were coming back but we didn't. Overall, I'd be disappointed we didn't win but the extra game will bring us on as well."

His counterpart Joe Kernan wasn't thrilled either. "We had the extra man and didn't use him sensibly again - as teams don't," he hastily added lest the message went out that Armagh, having made hard work of Cavan in similar circumstances a year ago were acquiring the habit of squandering numerical advantages.

"The boys showed character," he continued. "A lesser team would have folded and our boys didn't and that shows the quality that's still there. We didn't play to our own high standards and that's something we'll have to look at during the week. While we're glad to be in the championship we're disappointed with the way we played."

Referee Joe McQuillan sent off Donegal's Kevin Cassidy and Armagh's Paddy McKeever but this being a draw, there was no rush to judgment, although McEniff was wavering a little. "I don't know what Kevin's straight red card was for. I was disappointed that he went when maybe one or two others could have as well. It has to be fair all around. But I can't comment until I see the video."

On a more positive note he praised his rookie centrefielder Neil Gallagher who contributed well to the second-half revival that took the team to the brink of eliminating the favourites.

"That was his first championship game and he played very well. I was pleased for him, he's only 21 and a farmer, a big, strong fella. He battled away in there with some of the better and stronger midfielders in the country."

Colm McFadden also played a lot of ball in a depleted attack. "He worked hard in an unfamiliar role out on the wing. I had to put him there and leave two men up front, Adrian Sweeney and Brendan Devenney. Brendan wasn't at his best so we brought in young Rory Kavanagh who's an orthodox winger."

There was one anxious moment at the end of the match when schoolboy goalkeeper Michael Boyle took a knock when bravely clearing his lines. "He's a good 'keeper," said the manager. "I was hoping he wasn't hurt going back to his Leaving Cert tomorrow. I couldn't face his mother."

Donegal corner back Eamonn McGee played well on Steven McDonnell and explained the team's confidence going into the match. "The way we were positioned going into the game was ideal. Armagh were there with the pressure on them and we said that Donegal always have one big game in them every year. So we said we'd put that behind us and give it one big year for the like of Diver, Monaghan, Adie Sweeney and all these lads.

"When we saw Cassidy going off, that just lifted us all and we're very happy to have another chance but we should have got the result there today.

"I can say now that Armagh were lucky. It was them that were under pressure. Armagh fear us and I would say that they're under pressure now. We know we have them on the back foot and hopefully we can build on that."

The replay is next Saturday and the winners will have another outing a week later against Derry in the Ulster semi-final. Kernan said the prospect at least beat the alternative. "The more the merrier. It's great to be still playing them. It's better than a trip to Tipperary or somewhere like that."

Aughrim, actually.