Champions Meath to face Kildare or Wicklow in Leinster SFC

Meath are set to begin their defence of the Leinster SFC crown with a quarter-final against Kildare or Wicklow, it has been announced.

The draw for the 2011 Leinster Championship took place at Croke Park tonight, with Leinster Council Chairman Sheamus Howlin and CEO Michael Delaney pulling out the teams.

The Kildare v Wicklow first round clash is a repeat of the counties' 2008 Leinster Championship opener which Mick O'Dwyer's Wicklow side won on a 0-13 to 0-9 scoreline.

But, given their qualifier win over Wicklow last year and their impressive run through to the 2010 All-Ireland semi-finals, the Kieran McGeeney-led Lilywhites will be definite favourites to progress.

The other first round matches have paired Laois, now managed by Justin McNulty, with Longford, and Wexford with Offaly - both of whom failed to get past the quarter-final stage this year.

Dublin, beaten All-Ireland semi-finalists in 2010, will begin their summer odyssey against either Laois or Longford, while the winners of the Wexford-Offaly clash will meet Westmeath.

Louth, undoubtedly the unluckiest team in this year's Championship, will want to put things right by lifting the Delaney Cup, and they have Carlow first up.

2011 Leinster Senior Football Championship First Round draw:

Kildare v Wicklow

Laois v Longford

Wexford v Offaly

Quarter-final draw:

Kildare/Wicklow v Meath

Laois/Longford v Dublin

Wexford/Offaly v Westmeath

Carlow v Louth

Semi-final draw:

Kildare/Wicklow/Meath v Laois/Longford/Dublin

Wexford/Offaly/Westmeath v Carlow/Louth