Westmeath footballers learn Tailteann Cup fate
Westmeath's senior footballers have been drawn away to Laois in the inaugural Tailteann Cup.
Having lost to Kildare in their Leinster SFC semi-final yesterday (1-21 to 2-15), Westmeath will now enter the Tailteann Cup - the second tier competition for teams who will compete in Division 3 and 4 next year.
Westmeath are one of nine counties in the Southern section, including New York, who have been given a bye to the quarter-finals.
The draw was made by GAA president Larry McCarthy on RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland programme today (Monday), with Westmeath paired with familiar opponents Laois.
The Laois v Westmeath game will take place on the weekend of May 28/29.
Westmeath claimed an emphatic win over Laois in last year's Leinster championship and also defeated the O'Moore County in this year's Allianz Football League Division 3.
Laois endured a very disappointing league campaign which ended in relegation and Billy Sheehan's charges were then defeated by Wicklow in the Leinster SFC.
Meanwhile, Offaly will have a chance to overturn their Leinster championship defeat to Wexford, having been drawn against the same opponents in the preliminary round.
In the Northern section, Longford have been drawn at home to Fermanagh.
The format of the Tailteann CUp was passed at the 2019 Special Congress but its introduction was postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The winner of the 2022 Tailteann Cup will be guaranteed a place in the 2023 Sam Maguire Cup competition.
The Tailteann Cup will be played on a knockout basis, and organised geographically in northern and southern sections up until the semi-final stage, which will be an open draw between the four quarter-final winners.
There will be a draw made for each round. Home venues shall be used for the preliminary round, round 1 and quarter-final games, with the first team drawn having home advantage.
The semi-finals and final will be played in Croke Park, with the decider to be played before one of the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals.
The full draw is provided below and all games will be 'winner on the day'.
Tailteann Cup - Southern Section
Preliminary round: Wexford v Offaly; Wicklow v Waterford.
Round 1
Wexford or Offaly v Wicklow or Waterford
Carlow v Tipperary
Laois v Westmeath
*Quarter-finals (two): Three Round 1 winners plus New York.
Tailteann Cup - Northern Section
Round 1
Longford v Fermanagh
Leitrim v Antrim
Sligo v London
Cavan v Down
*Round 1 winners will advance to the Northern Section quarter-finals.
NOTE: first named teams at home in all games.
Fixture dates
Preliminary Round: May 21/22.
Round 1: May 28/29.
Quarter-finals: June 4/5.
Semi-finals: Sunday, June 19.
Final: Saturday, July 9.