THE Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup groups were confirmed last night - but All-Ireland champions Tyrone will not be involved in the first round of games as they will still be on their team holiday.
The Red Hands, the last county to lift the McKenna Cup at the start of 2020, are in Orlando from December 30 until Sunday, January 9, with the pre-season competition commencing under lights on Friday, January 7.
As defending champions, joint manager Feargal Logan and Player of the Year Kieran McGeary were at the Armagh City Hotel for last night’s draw, which saw Tyrone drawn out in Section B along with Armagh and Cavan.
It is understood the Red Hands will receive a bye for the first game, while the second round of games are fixed for Tuesday, January 11, with the final group games on Saturday, January 15.
Section A sees Donegal, Down and Antrim go toe-to-toe, with Monaghan, Derry and Fermanagh in Section C.
The Dr McKenna Cup semi-finals will take place on Tuesday, January 18, with the final on Saturday, January 22. That will lead counties into the National Football League, which gets under way the following weekend.
The groups were drawn in order to avoid repeat pairings ahead of next summer’s Championship meetings, while counties in the same National League division next year were also placed in different sections “in so far as possible”, according to Ulster GAA spokesman Declan Woods.
The Dr McKenna Cup fixtures will not be set until a meeting of Ulster GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee on Sunday night.
“There are a number of factors the CCC will take into account when finalising the schedules,” said Woods.
“Our current Ulster club finals, convention in Ulster takes place on the 14th of January, the Conor McGurk pre-season hurling competition will take place in the early part of January, the Tyrone All-Ireland winning team will be on their vacation, and some counties who do not have floodlit grounds will not be deprived of the ability to host their home game.”
Tyrone and Armagh will already have met ahead of their scheduled Dr McKenna Cup game, with the counties coming together for tomorrow night’s friendly clash at the Athletic Grounds.
That game is the focal point of a ‘Christmas Cracker' event in aid of the Time2Play charity, with the money raised going towards building a playpark at the Silverbridge Harps' grounds as a lasting tribute to Silverbridge native James Reel.
DR McKENNA CUP
Section A: Donegal, Down, Antrim
Section B: Tyrone, Armagh, Cavan
Section C: Monaghan, Derry, Fermanagh
