Royals likely to welcome Kingdom to Navan

Favourable draw for Meath in Sam Maguire series

If the provincial finals follow the expected lines then the Kingdom of Kerry will descend on Navan for the second round of the Sam Maguire All-Ireland SFC series on the June Bank Holiday weekend (either Saturday 1st or Sunday 2nd June) after the draws were made on gaa.ie this afternoon.

Tailteann Cup champions Meath, who depart for Portugal today on a five-day warm weather training camp, were fourth seeds in the draw and were drawn to face the Munster champions, the Leinster runners-up and Monaghan who were the third seeds.

Meath will open their Sam Maguire campaign with an away game against the Leinster SFC runners-up. No matter who that team is it is likely that that game will be in Croke Park on the weekend 25th/26th May.

If Dublin lose the Leinster SFC final then their first game will be at home and if they stick with their recent protocols Croke Park is likely to be nominated as their home ground.

If Louth end up losing the Leinster SFC final then they will host Meath in the opening game, but it is unlikely that Ardee would be a suitable venue for such a game.

That means that Meath could end up playing their opening game in Croke Park as part of a double-header, possibly involving Dublin and Roscommon on either Saturday 25th or Sunday 26th May.

With the Munster champions, most likely Kerry, coming to Navan on the June Bank Holiday weekend, Meath GAA have committed to having no club fixtures that weekend to facilitate every Meath supporter who wishes to attend the game.

Meath will conclude the group stages of the Sam Maguire series with a game against Monaghan in a neutral venue on the weekend of 15th/16th June.

The neutral venue for that game has yet to be confirmed, but could well be in Kingspan Breffni. Newry or Armagh could also be options.

The top team in each group advances to the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals. Counties finishing in second and third place will meet at the preliminary quarter-final stage.

The draw in full is:

Group 1: Connacht SFC Winner, Ulster SFC Runner-Up, Derry, Westmeath

Group 2: Leinster SFC Winner, Connacht SFC Runner-Up, Roscommon, Cavan

Group 3: Ulster SFC Winner, Munster SFC Runner-Up, Tyrone, Cork

Group 4: Munster SFC Winner, Leinster SFC Runner-Up, Monaghan, Meath