Galway and Mayo meet in Pearse Stadium but have been handed the toughest third seeds with the league champions heading to either Castlebar or Salthill on the first weekend, Saturday/Sunday May 18/19.
The losers of Sunday week’s Ulster final between Donegal and Armagh will also be in Group 1, making it the toughest possible combination from the top three seeds drawn out this afternoon.
Westmeath are the fourth seeds in that group and for the second successive year they’ll feel that luck hasn’t been with them, having been drawn with Galway, Armagh and Tyrone last year.
Their game with either Donegal or Armagh will take place a week later, Saturday/Sunday May 25/26.
The Connacht final losers won’t have it straightforward either but Group 2 is more benign, though it involves a likely clash with Dublin, as probable Leinster champions, in the final round between the top two seeds.
Roscommon, who have already lost to Mayo, and Cavan, who won’t have their main marksman Patrick Lynch involved because of a cruciate ligament injury, complete Group 2.
If it’s Dublin, it will be the fourth time that Roscommon have been drawn in a round robin group with them, having been with them in last year’s Sam Maguire group and also in both All-Ireland quarter final series groups (super eights) in 2018 and 2019.
Group 3 is fraught with danger too with the Ulster champions pitched in against the losers in Munster, most likely Clare, but also Tyrone and Cork. Cork are arguably the toughest fourth seeds.
There’s a probable north-east derby in the first round on Saturday/Sunday May 18/19, if as expected Louth lose to Dublin in the Leinster final next week. That would give them a home game against Meath but with no venue with a suitable capacity in Louth, it will require an alternative option. Last year, Louth played their home game against Cork in Navan.
In expectation that Kerry will win the Munster final, Louth will again have the Kingdom in the final round at a neutral venue. Monaghan are the third seeds in Group 4, creating two more north-east derbies.
In the Tailteann Cup, Kildare have avoided neighbours Laois and Offaly in Group 1 but will have Leitrim, Longford and Waterford to deal with as they seek to pick themselves up. Last year’s beaten finalists Down will have Offaly, Limerick and London.
Sam Maguire Cup
Group 1
Galway/Mayo (Connacht winners)
Donegal/Armagh (Ulster losers)
Derry
Westmeath
Group 2
Dublin/Louth (Leinster winners)
Galway/Mayo (Connacht losers)
Roscommon
Cavan
Group 3
Donegal/Armagh (Ulster winners)
Kerry/Clare (Munster losers)
Tyrone
Cork
Group 4
Kerry/Clare (Munster winners)
Dublin/Louth (Leinster losers)
Monaghan
Meath
Tailteann Cup
Group 1
Kildare
Leitrim
Longford
Waterford
Group 2
Sligo
Antrim
Wexford
Tipperary
Group 3
Fermanagh
Laois
Wicklow
Carlow
Group 4
Down
Offaly
Limerick
London
