With the GAA moving into a new format for the All Ireland championship and Tailteann cup yesterdays draw has brought some more clarity to what supporters can expect over the summer months. The CCCC are due to confirm dates and venues by the end of this week for the opening round of games in the Sam Maguire cup which throws in on the weekend of May 20th/21st. In group 1 the Munster winners which will be either Kerry or Clare will face Mayo while in group 2 the Connacht champions (Galway or Sligo) will welcome Tyrone. The losers of that provincial final will be up against Kildare in group 3 while the defeated Munster side will face Donegal. From a local perspective, Roscommon are due to enter the series on the weekend of May 27th/28th when they take on the Leinster champions which will be either Dublin or Louth. Monaghan also get their campaign underway that weekend when they make a trip to either Derry or Armagh whichever side claims the Ulster title.
The Tailteann cup is a similar format of each team having 1 game at home, 1 away and 1 at a neutral venue. Cavan and Laois will meet in round 1 on the weekend of May 13th/14th while Longford face Limerick and Leitrim take on Wicklow. This years Tailteann cup final will take place on the weekend of July 15th/16th while the All Ireland final is scheduled for Sunday July 30th.
