THE draw has been made for the first round of the All-Ireland Football Championship and in the tie of the round, Donegal have been drawn away to Kerry.
It’s a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland Final which was won by Kerry, and a rematch of the recent Allianz National Football League Division One final in which Donegal were convincing winners.
The match will be played on the weekend of May 23/24.
It’s one of eight first round ties drawn today – among the other stand-out matches are Armagh against Derry and Mark McHugh’s Westmeath at home to Cavan.
Kerry will face Donegal in the first round of the All-Ireland Football Championship in a rematch of last year’s final and the 2026 Allianz League decider.
All provincial finalists will have home advantage in the first round.
The eight winners of the Round 1 ties will be drawn against each other in Round 2A. The four winners from this stage will progress to the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals.
The eight losers of the first round ties will be drawn against each other in Round 2B. The four losers at this stage will exit the championship.
The four losers of the Round 2A ties will be drawn against the four winners of the Round 2B ties. The four winners at this stage will advance to the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals, where they will be drawn against the four winners from Round 2A.
First round draw
(Matches to be played over the weekend of May 23/24)
Kerry v Donegal
Cork v Meath
Galway v Kildare
Roscommon v Tyrone
(Matches to be played over the weekend of May 30/31)
Dublin v Louth
Monaghan v Mayo
Westmeath v Cavan
Armagh v Derry