11 hours ago
How the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals are shaping up after this morning's draw
The draw for the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals means that there is already a certain inevitability about how the quarter-finals will shape up.
The preliminary quarter-finals couldn't throw up pairings that had already occurred in the group stage or the provincial finals 'where possible', and the same arrangement pertains for the quarter-finals.
It means that an Armagh-Kerry quarter-final is very likely as if Kerry, Galway, Donegal and Dublin win their preliminary quarter-finals as expected, then the All-Ireland champions would play the Munster champions given that would be the only opposition that they haven't faced yet in this year's Championship.
In theory, of course, Armagh could yet play any of Cork, Louth, Down or Cavan either, should they upset the odds over the weekend.
But while, say, Meath can't play Louth at the quarter-final stage as they met in the Leinster final, they could have to play Dublin, who they beat in the provincial semi-final.
POSSIBLE OPPONENTS FOR CONFIRMED QUARTER-FINALISTS
ARMAGH - Cavan, Cork, Down, Kerry, Louth.
MEATH - Cavan, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Galway.
MONAGHAN - Cavan, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry.
TYRONE - Down, Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Louth.
POSSIBLE QUARTER-FINAL OPPONENTS FOR PRELIMINARY QUARTER-FINALISTS
CAVAN - Armagh, Meath, Monaghan.
CORK - Armagh, Monaghan, Tyrone.
DONEGAL - Meath, Monaghan.
DOWN - Armagh, Meath, Tyrone.
DUBLIN - Meath, Monaghan, Tyrone.
GALWAY - Meath, Monaghan, Tyrone.
KERRY - Armagh, Monaghan, Tyrone.
LOUTH - Armagh, Tyrone.
