Breaking: First-round Tailteann Cup opposition confirmed

Breaking

Cavan will meet Down in the first round of the new Tailteann Cup, the draw for which took place at 8.30am this morning.

Mickey Graham’s side last played the Mourne men in the Ulster SFC semi-final in 2020, the Blues coming from 10 points down to claim a memorable win.

Having won the Division 4 National League title and beaten Antrim before performing well against Donegal in the championship, Cavan have been installed as short-priced favourites by the bookmakers to win the inaugural Tailteann Cup, which is made up of teams who will play in Division 3 and Division 4 of next year’s National League and who did not qualify for a provincial final this season.

Down have been rocked by a number of defections recently, including the likes of Caolán Mooney and Ryan McEvoy, while their joint-captain Barry O'Hagan recently dismissed the competition as "pointless".

The draw took place live on RTE radio and online this morning.

Asked about the reason for the first two rounds being played on a geographical basis, GAA President Larry McCarthy said it was "to enhance the competition by using local rivalries and also to avoid travel costs not only for the teams but the supporters as well".

Preliminary round

1 Wexford v Offaly

2 Wicklow v Waterford

Round of 16 Southern

Winner of 1 v winner of 2

Carlow v Tipperary

Laois v Westmeath

Round of 16 Northern

Longford v Fermanagh

Leitrim v Antrim

Sligo v London

Cavan v Down

More to follow.