Football

Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cup draws: Everything you need to know

Derry could be facing a potential trip to Kerry, Galway or Mayo in their opening game of the All-Ireland Championship

Dublin’s Brian Howard and Derry’s Conor Doherty contest a high ball.
Derry could be drawn against Dublin in the Sam Maguire Cup draw on Tuesday Picture Mark Marlow
When will the draws take place?

The draws for the Sam Maguire Cup and Tailteann Cup will take place on Tuesday at 3pm. The draws will be presented by Gráinne Mc Elwain and conducted by GAA President Jarlath Burns and Feargal McGill, GAA Director of Player, Club and Games Administration. They will be broadcast on GAA.ie and on the GAA’s social media channels.

Who can Derry, Monaghan and Cavan be drawn against?

The Oak Leafers’ defeat to Donegal in the quarter-final of the Ulster Championship means they will be third seeds in the draw for the Sam Maguire Cup. Monaghan are also third seeds while Cavan are fourth seeds.

The Ulster champions of the past two years could be drawn into a group featuring Dublin and Kerry, last year’s All-Ireland finalists.

The provincial finalists will be in the pots one and two, with the final positions being determined by the outcome of those finals. Mayo face Galway in the Connacht final this weekend while Kerry take on Clare. Armagh and Donegal contest the Ulster final the following weekend while Dublin face Louth in the Leinster decider on the same day.



Where will the games be played?

The four teams contesting the Munster and Connacht finals will then begin their All-Ireland campaigns on the weekend of May 18 and 19 against the third and fourth seeded teams. That will include Derry, Tyrone, Monaghan and Cavan.

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The Ulster and Leinster finalists will begin their All-Ireland campaign on the weekend of May 25 and 26.

Number one and two seeds will have home advantage in the first round of games, third and fourth seeds will play at home in the second round and the third round of matches will be played at neutral venues.

Can teams who have met before in the Championship play each other again?

Previous pairings from provincial championships allowed. The only repeat pairings that aren’t permitted is teams that are due to face each other in provincial finals.

That provides the possibility of a Donegal-Derry rematch or Tyrone renewing acquaintances with the Tir Chonaill men after their extra-time defeat in Sunday’s Ulster semi-final or even facing historic rivals Armagh.

Peadar Mogan takes on Michael McKernan in Donegal's win over Tyrone. Picture: Margaret McLaughlin
Tyrone could be drawn against Donegal in Tuesday's draw for the Sam Maguire Cup group stages Picture: Margaret McLaughlin
What about the Tailteann Cup draw?

In the Tailteann Cup draw, Down will be a top seeds alongside Fermanagh, Kildare and the Sligo.

How have the seedings been worked out?

The seeds have been determined by a combination league positions and Championship performances. Fermanagh and Kildare finished seventh and eighth respectively in Division Two of the Allianz Football League. Down were top of Division Three but lost the league final to Westmeath, who earned a place in the Sam Maguire as a results, while Tony McEntee’s Sligo finished third in the division.

Are repeat pairings allowed in the Tailteann Cup?

The Mournemen missed out on a place in the Ulster final, which would have placed them in the Sam Maguire Cup, following their narrow defeat to Armagh in Saturday’s Ulster semi-final.

Antrim are among the second seeds, meaning a repeat of their Ulster SFC meeting with the Mournemen is a possibility.

Down's  Shealan Johnston  in action with  Antrim's Marc  Jordan in Saturday night's Ulster Championship game at Páirc Esler           Picture: Seamus Loughran
Down are number one seeds for the Tailteann Cup draw while Antrim will be in the second pot Picture: Seamus Loughran (seamus loughran)
When do the games takes place?

The opening group games of the Tailteann Cup take place on the weekend of May 11 and 12.

Where will the games be played?

Like the Sam Maguire Cup, number one and two seeds will have home advantage in the first round of games, third and fourth seeds will play at home in the second round and the third round of matches will be played at neutral venues.

Dublin's James McCarthy at the end of the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park Dublin on 07-30-2023.Pic Philip Walsh.
Dublin's James McCarthy lifts the Sam Maguire Cup after their win over Kerry in the 2023 All-Ireland final
Sam Maguire Cup seedings

Pot one: Galway/Mayo; Clare/Kerry; Dublin/Louth; Armagh/Donegal

Pot two: Galway/Mayo; Clare/Kerry; Dublin/Louth; Armagh/Donegal

Pot three: Derry; Tyrone; Roscommon; Monaghan

Pot four: Cavan; Cork; Meath; Westmeath

Tailteann Cup seedings

Pot one: Down; Fermanagh, Kildare; Sligo

Pot two: Antrim; Offaly; Laois; Leitrim

Pot three: Wicklow; Limerick; Wexford; Longford

Pot four: Carlow; Tipperary; London; Waterford

Fixtures
Sam Maguire Cup
Round 1
May 18/19

Seed 1 (Munster/Connacht Champions) v Seed 3

Seed 2 (Munster/Connacht Runners Up) v Seed 4

May 25/26

Seed 1 (Leinster/Ulster Champions) v Seed 3

Seed 2 (Leinster/Ulster Runners Up) v Seed 4

(Seed 1 & 2 will have home venue)

Round 2
June 1/2

Seed 3 v Seed 2

Seed 4 v Seed 1

(Seed 3 & 4 will have home venue)

Round 3
June 15/16

Seed 1 v Seed 2

Seed 3 v Seed 4

(Neutral venues)

Tailteann Cup
Round 1
May 11/12

Seed 1 v Seed 3

Seed 2 v Seed 4

Seed 1 & 2 will have home venue.

Round 2
May 18/19

Seed 3 v Seed 2

Seed 4 v Seed 1

Seed 3 & 4 will have home venue.

Round 3
June 1/2

Seed 1 v Seed 2

Seed 3 v Seed 4

Games will be played at neutral venues.