What counties are involved?<\/p>\n
The eight counties that qualified by reaching their provincial final <\/a>are: Kerry & Cork (Munster), Westmeath & Dublin (Leinster), Armagh & Monaghan (Ulster) and Roscommon & Galway (Connacht).<\/p>\n The seven top-ranked teams following the conclusion of the league (taking into account promotions and relegations) are: Donegal (first), Mayo (third), Meath (seventh), Louth (11th), Derry (12th), Tyrone (13th) and Cavan (14th).<\/p>\n Despite being relegated from Division 2 and having their Leinster campaign ended by Westmeath at the semi-final stage, Kildare had already guaranteed their spot in this year\u2019s All-Ireland series by winning the Tailteann Cup last July.<\/p>\n The 16 counties <\/a>were divided into two bowls, one containing all the provincial finalists, the other with the league-ranked counties and Kildare.<\/p>\n In an open draw held on May 4th<\/a>, the eight provincial finalists (who will have home advantage in Round 1) were drawn against the counties in the second bowl.<\/p>\n What are the Round 1 pairings?<\/p>\n Dublin v Louth<\/p>\n Cork v Meath<\/p>\n Monaghan v Mayo<\/p>\n Westmeath v Cavan<\/p>\n Kerry v Donegal<\/p>\n Galway v Kildare<\/p>\n Armagh v Derry<\/p>\n Roscommon v Tyrone<\/p>\n When will the Round 1 fixtures be played?<\/p>\n The opening round of games will be played over the last two weekends of May.<\/p>\n As the Munster and Connacht finals<\/a> were played are week earlier than the Leinster and Ulster finals<\/a>, the four counties involved in the earlier deciders (Kerry, Cork, Roscommon and Galway) will play their Round 1 games on the weekend of May 23rd\/24th. <\/p>\n The games involving the Leinster and Ulster finalists (Westmeath, Dublin, Armagh and Monaghan) will be played on the weekend of May 30th\/31st.<\/p>\n Round 1: May 23rd\/24th<\/p>\n Kerry v Donegal; Cork v Meath; Roscommon v Tyrone; Galway v Kildare<\/p>\n Round 1: May 30th\/31st:<\/p>\n Dublin v Louth; Westmeath v Cavan; Monaghan v Mayo; Armagh v Derry<\/p>\n How will the rest of the All-Ireland series work?<\/p>\n There will be three rounds (well, technically four, that will make sense shortly) before the quarter-final stage.<\/p>\n The eight winners from Round 1 will go to Round 2A, where they will be drawn against each other in four fixtures. The four winners of those games <\/a>will qualify directly for the quarter-finals and the losers will go to Round 3.<\/p>\n The counties who lose their Round 1 fixtures will go to Round 2B where they will be drawn in four fixtures. The four winners of those games will go to Round 3, while it\u2019s the end of the line for the four losers.<\/p>\n Round 3 will have the four Round 2A losers drawn against the Round 2B winners, the winners of which will join the Round 2A winners in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n In the quarter-finals, the four Round 2A winners will be drawn to play the Round 3 winners.<\/p>\n In all instances, the draws will first attempt to avoid repeating pairings from the provincial finals where possible, and secondarily any repeats of pairings from earlier rounds of the All-Ireland series.<\/p>\n When will those games be played?<\/p>\n Round 2A & 2B: June 13th\/14th<\/p>\n Round 3: June 20th\/21st<\/p>\n Quarter-finals: June 27th\/28th<\/p>\n Semi-finals: July 11th\/12th<\/p>\n All-Ireland Final: Sunday, July 26th<\/p>\n What about the Tailteann Cup?<\/p>\n![\"Kildare](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/OQ7AAVBIEF6MMSYMSAONNZW3JE.jpg\")
Kildare celebrate with the Tailteann Cup front and centre after victory over Limerick in 2025. Photograph: Inpho How were the first-round fixtures drawn?<\/p>\n![\"2026](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/OH6UL7FKGFCLTHTADQZDAEQPEU.png\")
2026 All-Ireland SFC format <\/p>\n
![\"GAA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/HFA36OJ63MG5KRMR3U6ZRVO534.jpg\")
GAA president Jarlath Burns holding the Tailteann Cup, alongside representatives from each of this year’s competing counties. Photograph: Sam Barnes\/Sportsfile How will that competition run?<\/p>\n