Donegal forward Mark McHugh unlikely to feature against Mayo Mark McHugh is highly unlikely to play in Sunday's All-Ireland Quarter-Final against Mayo despite some optimistic noises coming out of Donegal. Assistant boss Rory Gallagher is reported to have said that McHugh had "a chance" of playing in the meeting of last year's All-Ireland finalists. But while McHugh's concussion is now beyond the protocol period his quad muscle tear is likely to rule him out. McHugh also sustained a perforated eardrum in the Ulster Final. Donegal boss Jim McGuinness said after Saturday's qualifier victory over Laois that McHugh had sustained a "five centimetre cut" to his quad muscle as he demanded increased protection for his players from match officials. The nature of this injury makes McHugh's chances of being involved at Croke Park remote. But while McHugh is unlikely to be involved, Karl Lacey looks certain to return to the Donegal defence for Sundays' game. Last year's Footballer of the Year made his first start of this summer's Championship in the shock Ulster Final defeat by Monaghan but appeared short of match fitness. The Four Masters club-man didn't start against Laois last Saturday but came on as a substitute in the closing stages of the game.