Explained: The Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cup group seedings

The GAA has confirmed the seedings for the group stage draws in the Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cups.

How do the seedings work for the Sam Maguire?

In the Sam Maguire draw, 16 counties will be placed into four separate groups. Teams will be seeded based on championship and league performance and each group will feature four teams (each group consisting of a first, second, third and fourth seed).

The provincial champions will each be a first seed, with the provincial runners-up being second seeds.

The third seeds will be the four highest-placed teams from the leagues (who have not qualified for their provincial finals). The fourth seeds will include the next four highest-placed teams from the conclusion of this year’s leagues.

Teams who are due to meet in a provincial final (seeds 1 and 2) cannot be in the same group. However, teams who have already played each other earlier in this year’s championships can be drawn to the same groups.

What are the seedings this year?

First seeds

Second seeds

Third seeds

Fourth seeds

What are the dates for the games this year?

Round 1

May 17th/18th, May 24th/25th, home team first – Seed 1 v Seed 3, Seed 2 v Seed 4

Round 2

June 1st/2nd – Seed 4 v Seed 1, Seed 3 v Seed 2

Round 3

June 14th/15th, neutral venues – Seed 1 v Seed 2, Seed 3 v Seed 4

All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals

June 21st/22nd and June 28th/29th

All-Ireland semi-finals

July 12th/13th

All-Ireland final

July 27th

And what about the Tailteann Cup?

In the Tailteann Cup, the 16 participating counties will also be drawn into four separate groups. Teams will be seeded based on their finishing positions in the leagues and each group will feature four teams (each group consisting of a first, second, third and fourth seed). New York will enter the Tailteann Cup at the preliminary quarter-final stage.

Teams who have already played each other earlier in this year’s championships can be drawn to the same groups.

First seeds

Second seeds

Third seeds, league finishes

Fourth seeds, league finishes 

When will the draws take place?

The draws will take place at 3pm on Wednesday, April 30th, and will be broadcast live on GAA.ie and available on the official GAA social media channels.