Éamonn Fitzmaurice's All-Ireland fixtures verdict: Cork cop the draw nobody wanted

The Rebels face the long trek to Donegal to face Jim McGuinness's side

NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Cork manager John Cleary.  Picture: INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon

The tightrope of knockout football is now a reality for the teams in 2B after this morning's All-Ireland draw. 

Lose and you are done. In mid-June. For everyone other than Kerry and Roscommon it would be their third defeat in a row, so a deserved exit.

Kerry will be happy to have an opportunity to get their challenge back on track against Kildare, the lowest ranked team in the draw. 

Nothing is certain with Dublin anymore, but being away from Croke Park will suit them, bearing in mind their 2026 record there and the mass desertion of their supporters. 

Derry at home to Meath with Monaghan hosting Roscommon in Clones will be crackers and will mean a premature season ending defeat for a couple of ambitious counties.

The big incentive for the teams in 2A is a direct route to the quarter-finals and a weekend off, as well as maintaining the winning habit. 

Unfortunate Cork got the draw that nobody wanted, a trip to fortress Ballybofey. They beat them two years ago in Páirc Uí Rinn but this is a different Donegal. 

In-form Louth and Armagh will make for a fascinating Cooley Mountains derby. Tyrone and Mayo are both finding form and this could go either way. Considering their dismal home record Mayo will be happy to travel to Omagh. 

Westmeath visit Galway and will now get to see if they can compete with an elite team at the top of the game. They have been fantastic so far this summer responding to every challenge but this is a major jump in standard.

The losers in 2A will play the winners of 2B in round 3. Suddenly everyone is starting to see the shape of things to come.