Former Donegal All-Ireland winner Martin McHugh feels his native county are too far off the level required to topple Dublin or Kerry should they meet either of them in this year's championship.

Rory Gallagher's side are 4/6 favourites to topple Galway in this weekend's qualifier clash in Sligo, which would advance them into another quarter final, but, writing in his Irish Daily Star column, McHugh says he can't see them going much further than the last eight.

"I don't think Donegal are close to the level required to play Kerry or Dublin," the Kilcar wrote.

"People got carried away in Donegal this year because they beat Tyrone in the league. Managers know when their side is not ready, but they can do nothing about expectations.

"Donegal and Rory Gallagher are rebuilding. You can't take 13 or 14 players out of your team and compete at the highest level 12 months later.

"It took us long enough to win an All-Ireland, and we win one every 25 years."

As for the Tribesmen, McHugh added: "The Connacht final defeat by Roscommon was a huge blow for them. The weather conditions didn't suit them, as all good footballers love a dry ball.

"They probably believed their own hype because they beat Mayo again and that gets through to players."

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