The GAA have released their plans for next year's National Leagues and Championships.
The 2021 Allianz National Hurling and Football Leagues will run from the weekend of February 27th and 28th until the start of April.
The National Football League will see an introduction of a new split of counties into north and south.
In Division 1, Dublin, Galway, Roscommon and Kerry will form the Southern group with Monaghan, Tyrone, Donegal and Armagh making an All Ulster Northern Group.
Division 2 will see Cork, Clare, Laois and Kildare in one group with Down, Westmeath, Meath and Mayo in the 2nd one.
Cavan, Longford, Fermanagh and Derry will make up the Northern Group in Division 3 with Limerick, Wicklow, Offaly and Tipperary in the Southern Group.
Division 4, has Leitrim, Antrim, Louth and Sligo in one group with Carlow, Wexford, Waterford and London on the other side.
The top 2 in each group will contest the league semi final with the bottom 2 in relegation play offs.
Meanwhile, the All-Ireland Football Championship will see the backdoor return after provincial games.
Provincial winners from 2020 who are not or do not make Division 1 or 2 will still be able to compete in the qualifiers should they fail to reach the provincial final. That ensures in particular that Cavan and Tipperary will be able to contest for the Sam Maguire in 2021 even if they fail to be promoted from Division 3.
GAA Overview of competitions for 2021
https://www.gaa.ie/news/2021-league-and-championships-overview/