DUBS TO FACE LOUTH OR WEXFORD
Championship draws:
DUBLIN’S drive for five will begin with a Leinster quarter-final clash against either Louth or Wexford. Jim Gavin’s team avoided a potential early-round banana skin in last night’s Leinster Championship draw, avoiding Kildare and Meath. They are, however, set for a Leinster semi-final clash against Kildare, provided the Lilywhites do not slip up against Wicklow in the preliminary round or Longford in the quarterfinal. The draw paves the way for a glamour Leinster final showdown with Meath, who were one of the big winners in last night’s Championship draw, which took place at RTÉ. Meanwhile, as ever, it was left to Ulster to produce the heavyweight contests for the Championship’s early rounds next summer. Neighbours Monaghan and Cavan meet in an Ulster quarter-final. On the other side of the draw, the scene appears set for a heavyweight semifinal showdown between All-Ireland finalists Tyrone and Ulster champions Donegal. The Munster Championship keeps big guns Kerry and Cork apart until a potential final meeting. In Connacht, the pathway has been opened for a meeting of Galway and Mayo in the final. It bucks the recent pattern, which has seen Connacht’s big two come out in the same side of the draw in seven of the previous nine years. However, Mayo’s returning boss James Horan is unlikely to count his chickens prematurely particularly given that they are likely to be facing Division 1 opposition in Roscommon in the semifinal. Last night’s draws is also likely to facilitate the debate regarding the Championship format. After seeing his team draw Roscommon, with Galway awaiting in the semi-final, Leitrim star Emyln Mulligan pulled no punches. ‘We haven’t a hope,’ he admitted.