McEntee and Meath have plenty to prove after draw

"It looks like being another Kildare and Dublin final," was the reaction on the Irish Times website to the draw for the Leinster SFC last night indicating that among some observers Andy McEntee's Meath have little chance of even making it to a provincial showdown. 

Andy McEntee's Meath will start their quest for a first Leinster SFC title for the first time since 2010 when they take on Longford in a game that carries plenty of threat for the Royal County side.  

If McEntee's team get over that encounter they will almost certainly play Dublin in a semi-final encounter. 

The reigning All-Ireland champions take on the winners of the Offaly v Wicklow first round encounter and it would be the shock of the century if either of those sides lowered the colours of Jim Gavin's high-flying side. 

McEntee will be wary going into the Longford game. He will be able to recall how in the early 1980s Longford defeated Meath in the Leinister SFC.

Next year's All-Ireland series is the first time teams will be looking to get into the 'Super Eight' which is to be introduced for the first time. 

The draws are:  

Leinster first round

Laois v Wexford

Louth v Carlow

Offaly v Wicklow

Quarter-finals

Louth/Carlow v Kildare

Offaly/Wicklow v Dublin

Longford v Meath

Semi-finals

Laois/Wexford/Westmeath v Louth/Carlow/Kildare

Offaly/Wicklow/Dublin v Longford/Meath.

Munster  football quarter-finals:

Clare play Limerick

Tipperary play Waterford

Semi-finals

Clare/Limerick play Kerry

Tipperary/Waterford play Cork

Connacht quarter-finals

Mayo v Galway

New York v Leitrim  

London v Sligo

Semi-finals

New York/Leitrim v Roscommon

Mayo/Galway v London/Sligo    

Ulster  preliminary round

Donegal v Cavan

Quarter-finals

Derry v Donegal/Cavan

Fermanagh v Armagh

Tyrone v Monaghan

Down v Antrim

Semi-finals

Down/Antrim v Derry/Donegal/Cavan

Fermanagh/Armagh v Tyrone/Monaghan