Both Leitrim and Sligo have received ‘home’ draws in the first round of the GAA’s new All-Ireland Tier 2 football championship – the Tailteann Cup.
The draw for the opening rounds was made on Monday morning.
Leitrim will be at home to Antrim in the first round proper – while Sligo will face London at Markievicz Park.
The first-round games will be played on the weekend of May 28th/29th.
17 counties are contesting the new competition, including New York who get a bye to the quarter-finals.
There will be two prelim round matches: Wexford v Offaly and Wicklow v Waterford. These games will be played next weekend (May 21/22nd).
The first round draw is as follows:
(Northern Section)
Longford v Fermanagh
Leitrim v Antrim
Sligo v London
Cavan v Down
(Southern Section)
Wexford/Offaly v Wicklow/Waterford
Carlow v Tipperary
Laois v Westmeath.
All round one matches will be played on the weekend of May 28/29th – winner on the day.
Leitrim selector James Glancy gave his reaction to the draw to Ocean FM Sport’s Austin O’Callaghan:
Speaking ahead of Monday morning’s draw, GAA President Larry McCarthy said the rationale behind a regionalised draw was to help teams and supporters reduce travel costs and to ‘make the most of local rivalries’.
The semi-finals and final of the Tailteann Cup will all be played at Croke Park and these games will be televised live.
Tailteann Cup dates:
Prelim round games
May 21/22nd
First round games
May 28/29th
Quarter-finals
Saturday, June 4th
Semi-finals
Sunday, June 19th (both at Croke Park)
Final
Saturday, July 9th (Croke Park).
