So, after an unnecessarily drawn out process this year the 2020 All Ireland football championship draw has been made.
It began with the Leinster championship draw on Monday morning where champions Dublin were drawn in a clash Westmeath to open their title defence. The make-up of the other three quarter-finals have yet to be confirmed with three fixtures to be decided in Round One.
They are: Carlow versus Offaly, the winner of which will player Kildare; Wexford versus Wicklow, the winner of which will play Meath; and Louth versus Longford, the winner of which will play Laois.
The draw for the semi-finals will take place once the quarter-finals have been concluded.
The @gaaleinster Football Championship draw was made this morning - here's how it's looking for the Counties in 2020! #GAA pic.twitter.com/re9c5IQj9y
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 7, 2019
In the Munster championship drawn on Tuesday morning Cork and Kerry were drawn on the same side of the draw, meaning the old rivals will not face off in the provincial decider for the first time since 2016. In 2020 the All-Ireland runners-up will be going for their eight consecutive provincial title in a row.
But while the two Munster powerhouses have received a bye into the semi-finals, the other semi-finalists must go through quarter-finals. Waterford will play Limerick in one quarter-final, while Clare will take on Tipperary in the other.
Here’s what this morning’s @MunsterGAA Football Championship draw looks like for the 2020 season! #GAA pic.twitter.com/sS2RJ4If98
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 8, 2019
The Connacht championship draw was also made on Tuesday morning, with Galway making the trip across the Atlantic to start the championship in New York. Following the curtain-raiser in the Big Apple, the Tribesmen will play Sligo for a place in the Connacht final.
On the other side of the draw reigning Connacht champions Roscommon and Mayo look set to meet in the provincial semi-final for the second year in a row, provided the pair overcome London and Leitrim respectively.
It’s @NewYorkGAA v @TribesmenGAA in @ConnachtGAA Football Championship for 2020. Here’s the draw for the Province next year! pic.twitter.com/ZfAbZups9w
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 8, 2019
Finally, yet again, the Ulster championship has thrown up an exciting draw. The quarter-final meeting between Donegal and Tyrone, for obvious reasons, attracted most attention, though Derry and Armagh should also prove an attractive tie. The winner of these two fixtures will play in the first Ulster semi-final.
Meanwhile Fermanagh and Down will meet in the third quarter-final while local rivals, Monaghan and Cavan, will play in the province's preliminary round for the chance to play Antrim. The winners of the latter game will the winners of the third quarter-final pairing for a spot in the Ulster final.
Championship 2020 has been drawn for @UlsterGAA. Here's how the Provincial Football Championship will play out next summer #GAA pic.twitter.com/hnL1iyukCE
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 9, 2019
