Tailteann Cup Quarter-Final draw throws up heavyweight pairings
The Tailteann Cup quarter-final draw has thrown up two repeat League Final pairings from earlier this season.
Competition favourites Kildare will go head to head with Offaly again, with the Faithful County having defeated the Lily Whites in the Division 3 decider at Croke Park at the end of March.
Kildare, as group toppers, will have home advantage for that one with the tie set to be played at the redeveloped St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge.
All four quarter-finals are scheduled for this weekend as the second tier competition ramps up a gear following last weekend's preliminary quarter-finals.
Another repeat pairing comes in the shape of Limerick and Wexford, with the Treaty men claiming the Division 4 title against John Hegarty's side earlier this year.
Jimmy Lee's Limerick will enjoy home advantage for that one after topping their group and will be favoured to move on to the last four, despite Wexford's resounding win over Antrim at the weekend.
Oisin McConville's Wicklow are at home to Westmeath, the only Division 2 side from this year in the competition, with Dermot McCabe's men slightly favoured to emerge in this one.
After racking up 3-26 against Laois at the weekend, the Lake County may be finding form at just the right time and could do damage in a competition they won three years ago.
The final tie of the round sees Sligo go to Enniskillen to face Fermanagh.
Tailteann Cup victory secures a golden ticket to next year's All-Ireland series, regardless of where teams finish in the League.
For Kildare and Offaly, both in Division 2 next season, it would take the pressure off next year to finish high up their League. A sixth place finish in 2026 would see them stay in Division 2 and go into the All-Ireland.
The stakes are particularly high here for Leinster sides like Kildare, Offaly, Wexford, Westmeath and Wicklow, due to the longer road they have to travel to a provincial final.
This makes it less likely they will get into next year's All-Ireland via one of the top two seeds placings available to the provincial finalists in all four provinces.
It's a similar situation with Fermanagh, as Ulster is particularly tough and with the Erne Men playing Division 3 next year, getting into the All-Ireland via league placings is highly unlikely.
The Tailteann Cup is currently their best chance of making the All-Ireland in 2026.
Tailteann Cup Quarter-Final Draw:
Fermanagh v Sligo
Wicklow v Westmeath
Kildare v Offaly
Limerick v Wexford
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