Tough schedule for Westmeath while Roscommon avoid heavy hitters

Westmeath's senior footballers will open their Leinster SFC campaign next summer with another tantalising quarter-final against rivals Offaly, this time in Tullamore.

However, Lake County Gaels won't be pleased at falling on the same side of the draw as seemingly indestructible Leinster and All-Ireland champions Dublin, who are after their seventh successive Delaney Cup win.

In Connacht, Roscommon avoid the potential pitfalls of a clash with Mayo or Galway in the opening round, having received a bye directly into the semi final where they will meet the winners of the Leitrim v London quarter final clash.

Mayo, Galway and Sligo are all on the other side of the draw.

Turning back to Leinster, in June, Westmeath overcame Offaly – managed by former Lake County boss Pat Flanagan – in a fiercely contested Leinster quarter-final at TEG Cusack Park, winning 0-13 to 0-12. They went on to defeat Kildare in the semi-final, before losing out to Dublin in the decider.

However, next year, should Tom Cribbin's men get the better of Offaly again, they are likely to encounter Dublin in the semi-final, with the holders drawn to play the winners of the preliminary match between Carlow and Wexford in their quarter-final.

Meanwhile, Westmeath's senior hurlers could face Offaly or Wexford in a Leinster SHC quarter-final, depending on how their round robin stage goes.

Michael Ryan's men face Kerry, Carlow and Laois in the opening phase. Should they get through and face Offaly in the quarter-final, it will be a real chance for the Maroons to reach the last four.

Depending on where they finish in the round robin, Westmeath could also end up in an intriguing tie with Wexford, now under the direction of Clare legend Davy Fitzgerald. The winners of this would play holders Kilkenny in the semi-finals.

The draws are as follows:

Leinster SFC
Preliminary round: Louth v Wicklow, Laois v Longford, Carlow v Wexford

Quarter-finals: Offaly v Westmeath, LH/WW v Meath, LS/LD v Kildare, CW/WX v Dublin

Semi-finals: OY/WH v DUB/CW/WX, LH/WW/MH v LS/LD/KE

Leinster SHC
Round robin (RR) teams: Westmeath, Kerry, Laois, Meath

Quarter-finals: Galway v Dublin, RR v Offaly, RR v Wexford

Semi-finals: GAL/DUB v RR/Offaly, Kilkenny v RR/Wexford

Connacht SFC

Preliminary Round: Sligo V. New York.

Quarter-finals: Mayo V Sligo/New York; Leitrim v London

Semi-finals: Mayo/Sligo/New York v Galway; Leitrim/London v Roscommon