Tailteann Cup competition structure confirmed by GAA

The GAA has confirmed details around the new Tailteann Cup senior football competition in advance of the draw for the opening round of games, with the competition organised geographically in northern and southern sections, up until the semi-final stage.

Competing teams have been assigned to Northern and Southern sections in advance of the draw, with the GAA confirming that any potential preliminary round will only feature teams from the southern section, those that have not reached a provincial semi-final.

Northern section: Antrim, Fermanagh, Down, Sligo, Longford, Longford, Leitrim, CavanSouthern section: Waterford, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Carlow, Wexford, Tipperary if eligible, Westmeath if eligible, New York (enter at quarter-final stage)

The draw will be made by GAA president Larry McCarthy next Monday morning on RTE Radio 1's Morning Ireland at 8.35am, ahead of the competition launch at Croke Park later that afternoon.

Home venues shall be used for the preliminary round, round 1 and quarter-final games, with the first team drawn having home advantage. The semi-finals and final will be played in Croke Park.

The final list of teams will be confirmed on Sunday evening as both Westmeath and Tipperary will be eligible for the Sam Maguire Cup if they win their respective provincial semi-finals this weekend.

Any preliminary round fixtures will take place on weekend of 21-22 May, with first round games scheduled for the following weekend.

If Tipperary and Westmeath are both in the Tailteann Cup:

A preliminary round is required in the southern section with two fixtures and will involve the teams in the section who did not qualify for a provincial semi-final only – Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Carlow, Wexford, Waterford.

A further draw