The summer road: Guide to the groups and fixtures for All-Ireland football championships

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024 - 19:52

John Fogarty

The Munster champions - either Kerry or Clare - will be at home to Monaghan in the first round of the Sam Maguire Cup next month, while Cork will travel to face the Munster runners-up in their opening game.

The winners of Sunday’s provincial final in Ennis will be joined by the Leinster runners-up, Dublin or Louth, third seeds Monaghan and last year’s Tailteann Cup winners Meath in Group 4.

As fourth seeds, Cork have been included in Group 3 alongside the Ulster champions Armagh or Donegal, the losers in Cusack Park and Tyrone.

All-Ireland champions Dublin, should they beat Louth in the Leinster final on Sunday week, will be placed in Group 2 along with the Connacht finalists, Roscommon and Cavan.

In the most difficult group, the Connacht winners, Galway or Mayo, were drawn alongside the Ulster runners-up, Division 1 victors Derry and Westmeath.

Irrespective of what happens this Sunday, Clare, Cork and Kerry will commence their All-Ireland series on May 18/19. The other two games that weekend will be Galway/Mayo v Derry and Galway/Mayo v Cavan.

The Leinster and Ulster finalists open their campaigns the following weekend where the pick of the games will be Tyrone travelling to face Armagh or Donegal in Ballybofey or Armagh city.

GROUPS

Sam Maguire group stage.

Group 1: Connacht winners (Mayo/Galway), Ulster runner up (Armagh/Donegal), Derry, Westmeath.

Group 2: Leinster winners (Dublin/Louth), Connacht runners-up (Mayo/Galway), Roscommon, Cavan

Group 3: Ulster winners (Armagh/Donegal), Munster runners-up (Clare/Kerry), Tyrone, Cork.

Group 4: Munster winners (Clare/Kerry), Leinster runners up (Dublin/Louth), Monaghan, Meath.

Tailteann Cup group stage.

Group 1: Kildare, Leitrim, Longford, Waterford.

Group 2: Sligo, Antrim, Wexford, Tipperary.

Group 3: Fermanagh, Laois, Wicklow, Carlow.

Group 4: Down, Offaly, Limerick, London.

FIXTURES

Sam Maguire Cup.

Group 1: May 18/19 (home team first): Galway/Mayo v Derry; May 25/26 (home team first): Armagh/Donegal v Westmeath; June 1/2 (home team first): Westmeath v Galway/Mayo, Derry v Armagh/Donegal; June 15/16 (neutral venues): Galway/Mayo v Armagh/Donegal; Derry v Westmeath.

Group 2: May 18/19 (home team first): Galway/Mayo v Cavan; May 25/26 (home team first): Dublin/Louth v Roscommon; June 1/2 (home team first): Cavan v Dublin/Louth; Roscommon v Galway/Mayo; June 15/16 (neutral venues): Dublin/Louth v Galway/Mayo, Roscommon v Cavan.

Group 3: May 18/19 (home team first): Clare/Kerry v Cork; May 25/26 (home team first): Armagh/Donegal v Tyrone; June 1/2 (home team first): Tyrone v Clare/Kerry, Cork v Armagh/Donegal; June 15/16 (neutral venues): Armagh/Donegal v Clare/Kerry, Tyrone v Cork.

Group 4: May 18/19 (home team first): Clare/Kerry v Monaghan; May 25/26 (home team first): Dublin/Louth v Meath; June 1/2 (home team first): Meath v Clare/Kerry, Monaghan v Dublin/Louth; June 15/16 (neutral venues): Clare/Kerry v Dublin/Louth; Monaghan v Meath.

Tailteann Cup.

Group 1: May 11/12 (home team first): Kildare v Longford, Leitrim v Waterford; May 18/19 (home team first): Waterford v Kildare; Longford v Leitrim; June 1/2 (neutral venues): Kildare v Leitrim, Longford v Waterford.

Group 2: May 11/12 (home team first): Sligo v Wexford, Antrim v Tipperary; May 18/19 (home team first); Tipperary v Sligo, Wexford v Antrim; June 1/2 (neutral venues): Sligo v Antrim; Wexford v Tipperary.

Group 3: May 11/12 (home team first): Fermanagh v Wicklow, Laois v Carlow; May 18/19 (home team first): Carlow v Fermanagh; Wicklow v Laois; June 1/2 (neutral venues): Fermanagh v Laois; Wicklow v Carlow.

Group 4: May 11/12 (home team first): Down v Limerick; Offaly v London; May 18/19 (home team first): London v Down; Limerick v Offaly; June 1/2 (neutral venues): Down v Offaly; Limerick v London.