Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Conn boost for Mayo men
MAYO have been handed a straightforward route to the Connacht SFC final with Galway and Roscommon pairing off on the other side of the draw.
James Horan’s side, who regained the provincial title for the first time since 2015 last year, will start their campaign with a quarterfinal against Sligo, where a victory will see them face Division Four opposition once again in Leitrim.
Roscommon and Galway, the only Division One sides in Connacht after Mayo’s relegation, will meet in the other semi-final in what will be one of the standout clashes in the early rounds of the Championship.
With Pearse Stadium having hosted their last Championship meeting in the 2019 Connacht final, won by Roscommon, Anthony Cunningham’s charges are set to enjoy home advantage against his native county at Dr Hyde Park in a knockout encounter.
New York and London have been excluded for the second successive year owing to the uncertainty around travel with Covid-19.
In Munster, the province’s traditional big two, Cork and Kerry, have also been placed on opposite sides of the draw.
The Kingdom have the more difficult route with a home tie against Clare first up and holders Tipperary waiting for whoever emerges in the semi-final.
Should it be Kerry,
Tipp will enjoy home advantage.
Cork will play the winners of Limerick and Waterford in the other semi-final.
The Munster hurling draw was also made and the meeting of League, provincial and All-ireland champions Limerick and Cork at the semi-final stage is the standout tie.
Clare will meet Waterford in the preliminary round, with Tipperary awaiting the winners in the semi-final.
The Leinster football and hurling draws take place this morning, followed by the Ulster SFC draw this evening.