With round one in the bag, we now know what teams will be in round 2A and 2B.
The Sam Maguire Cup(Image: Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane)
The first round of the All-Ireland senior football Championship is done and dusted, and we now know what teams will make up rounds 2A and 2B in the hunt for Sam Maguire.
Last week saw the Championship kick-off with drama in Killarney. After this weekend’s stunning action, the fracas between Kerry and Donegal seems like a lifetime ago.
As does the days when the Dubs conquered all before them. Ger Brennan’s men were beaten by Louth on Sunday for the first time in the Championship in more than 50 years. That sheen of invincibility is now long gone – the Dubs have lost to Meath, Westmeath and Louth in Championship action over the past 12 months.
All hope hasn’t been lost for our beaten teams in round 1. They move into round 2B, where it is truly do or die. Defeat in 2B means an exit from the Championship, and nobody is in the mood for a long summer of soul searching.
Tomorrow morning’s draw will reveal the fixtures. However, we already know what teams will be in the draw, and what pot they will be in.
Here are the teams that will be in the pot for 2A and 2B.
2A Pot – Victorious teams from Round 12B Pot – Losing teams from Round 1What happens next?
The eight teams in 2A will be drawn against each other. The four winners of those matches will progress to the quarter-final, and the four losers will move into round 3 – which is essentially a play-off round for the quarters.
The eight teams in 2B will be drawn against each other. The four losers of those matches are out of the Championship, with the four winners moving into round 3.
The four winners in Round 3 move into the quarter-finals where they play the winners of 2A, while the losers of round 3 crash out of the Championship.
And when is the draw taking place?
The draw will be taking place at 8:30am on Tuesday morning.