Counties learn fate in historic Tailteann Cup draw

The first ever draw for the Tailteann Cup took place live on RTÉ's Morning Ireland on Monday morning, with Laois colliding with Westmeath and Cavan facing Down.

Competing teams were assigned to northern and southern sections in advance of the draw, which was made by GAA President Larry McCarthy.

In the northern section, 2020 Ulster SFC champions Cavan will host the Mourne men in an intriguing first-round face-off. Elsewhere Longford play Fermanagh, Leitrim clash with Antrim, and London travel to Sligo.

The Laois-Westmeath fixture looks potentially the pick of the bunch in the southern section, with Carlow and Tipperary also squaring off.

Wexford take on Offaly, and Wicklow are at home to Waterford in the preliminary round matches, which will be played this weekend. The winners of those games will then meet each other in the first round.

New York have received a bye into the quarter-finals.

All first-round games are scheduled for the weekend of 28/29 May.

"(My hope is) that it takes off like a meteorite and is a great competition and some county grabs it and marches through the summer and has a wonderful occasion in Croke Park when we play the semi-finals and the final," said McCarthy after the draw.

"It's the local rivalries that are going to be manifested in this and rather like the league which is always considered to be a very good competition, the level of play is going to be at the same level for the teams.

"It will take off, I’ve not doubt. This is a wonderful opportunity (for teams to play at Croke Park) and for the spectators and fans to come to Croke Park on those occasions.

"There will be great days out, I’ve no doubt, across the country."