Explained: The Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cup group seedings

The GAA has confirmed the seedings for the group stage draws in the Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cups.

In the Sam Maguire draw, 16 counties will be placed into four separate groups. Teams will be seeded based on championship and league performance and each group will feature four teams (each group consisting of a first, second, third and fourth seed).

The provincial champions will each be a first seed, with the provincial runners-up being second seeds.

The third seeds will be the four highest-placed teams from the leagues (who have not qualified for their provincial finals). The fourth seeds will include the next four highest-placed teams from the conclusion of this year’s leagues.

Teams who are due to meet in a provincial final (seeds 1 and 2) cannot be in the same group. However, teams who have already played each other earlier in this year’s championships can be drawn to the same groups.

May 17th/18th, May 24th/25th, home team first – Seed 1 v Seed 3, Seed 2 v Seed 4

June 1st/2nd – Seed 4 v Seed 1, Seed 3 v Seed 2

June 14th/15th, neutral venues – Seed 1 v Seed 2, Seed 3 v Seed 4

June 21st/22nd and June 28th/29th

July 12th/13th

July 27th

In the Tailteann Cup, the 16 participating counties will also be drawn into four separate groups. Teams will be seeded based on their finishing positions in the leagues and each group will feature four teams (each group consisting of a first, second, third and fourth seed). New York will enter the Tailteann Cup at the preliminary quarter-final stage.

Teams who have already played each other earlier in this year’s championships can be drawn to the same groups.

The draws will take place at 3pm on Wednesday, April 30th, and will be broadcast live on GAA.ie and available on the official GAA