This year’s Ulster SFC finalists – Armagh or Donegal – will fall into the so -called “death group” in the All -ireland series.
The losers of the Ulster final on May 10 will be placed in Group Four with the losers of Galway/Mayo, Dublin and Derry.
“I can be the first to call it the” death group, “please?” Said the director of players, club and administration of Games of the Gaa Feargal McGill during the tie on Wednesday.
The Ulster champions will fall in the first group with the winners of Sunday’s Connacht final between Galway and Mayo, Tyrone and Cavan won the Donegal in the Ulster SFC final on May 10th.
On paper, Group Four probably seems to be the hardest in paper with the eight potential teams that have reached last year’s qualifying rounds.
Derry and Dublin are guaranteed to be part of it with the two municipalities that expect to bounce off of disappointing provincial campaigns.
Derry lost to Donegal at the Ulster preliminary round, while Dublin was stunned by Meath at the Leinster semi -finals last weekend, creating a First Leinster Final without the Dubs since 2010.
Sam Maguire’s first round of games will be played on the weekend of May 17/18, with Connacht and Munster finalists among those in action.
Ulster and Leinster finalists will start their campaigns the following week.
Armagh hopes to hold its All-Irland title after winning the highest Gaelic football prize for the second time last summer.
All-Irland SFC
Group one: Winners Armagh/Donegal, Galway/Mayo Losers, Tyrone, Cavan
GROUP TWO: Winners of Kerry/Clare, Louth/Meath Losers, Roscommon, Cork
Group three: Winners of Louth/Meath, Kerry/Clare Losers, Monaghan, Down
Group Four: GALWAY/MAYO WINNERS, ARMAGH/DONEGAL LOSSERS, DUBLÍN, DERY
Tailteann Cup
Group one: Kildare, Sligo, Leitrim, Tippery
GROUP TWO: OFFALY, LAOIS, Wicklow, Waterford
Group three: Westmeath, Limerick, Antrim, London
Group Four: Fermanagh, Wexford, Carlow, Longford