Tough draws for Ulster counties, comfortable ones likely for Dublin and Kerry

With six of the nine Ulster counties making up almost 40% of the draw, one more team than last year, northern derbies were inevitable.

The losers of the Ulster final will face Derry at Celtic Park on June 1/2. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Ulster counties experienced another difficult Sam Maguire Cup draw on Tuesday as provincial finalists Armagh and Donegal will either face Derry or Tyrone in the All-Ireland group stages.

While last year’s All-Ireland finalists Dublin and Kerry will earn comfortable draws in Groups 2 and 4 should they as expected win their respective provincial finals, the winners of the Ulster decider on Sunday week will face Tyrone at home two weeks later in Group 3. The following weekend, they must make a trip to Cork who will have had a two-week break from their first game against the Munster runners-up on May 18/19.