Leitrim to be seeded three for 2025 Tailteann Cup campaign

Leitrim will open their Tailteann Cup campaign with an away trip to one of the competition’s top seeds as just one place remains to be filled in the Tier 2 competition ahead of next week’s Leinster SFC Semi-Finals.

The winner of the Louth and Kildare Leinster semi-final will take their place in the All-Ireland series proper with the loser dropping into the Tailteann Cup as a first seed team with the Tier 2 competition due to start on the weekend of May 10-11.

With Leitrim relegated from Division 3, it means they start as a three seed in the draw. That seeding will ensure Steven Poacher's side open their campaign with an away game first up on May 10-11, followed by a home game on the weekend of May 17-18. The final group game will take place on the June Bank Holiday weekend.

The seedings mean that Leitrim cannot be drawn against Antrim, Wicklow or Carlow as all three are also seeded third in the Tailteann group.

Possible first round opponents include the loser of the Louth and Kildare Leinster semi-final, Division 3 champions Offaly, relegated Westmeath or Fermanagh, the team Leitrim did not play in the Division 3 campaign. Leitrim also played Offaly in the Division 3 campaign, losing by five points in Ballinamore.

Possible second round opponents include Sligo, Laois, Limerick and Wexford. Both Sligo and Laois hit Poacher's side for over 20 points in their League outings while Leitrim lost to Wexford in the 2023 Tailteann Cup.

Fourth seeds include Tipperary, Longford, London and Waterford, who Leitrim defeated last year in Ballinamore while Andy Moran's side defeated Longford last year in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park. 

The Tailteann Cup could see first ever championship encounters for Leitrim against Westmeath, Tipperary, Laois and Limerick to add quite a bit of intrigue to the draw. 

The full Tailteann Cup seedings are as follows:

• Seed 1: Louth or Kildare, Offaly, Westmeath, Fermanagh
• Seed 2: Sligo, Laois, Limerick, Wexford
• Seed 3: Antrim, Leitrim, Wicklow, Carlow
• Seed 4: Tipperary, Longford, London, Waterford

TAILTEANN CUP DATES

• May 10-11: Round 1: Seed 1 v Seed 3; Seed 2 v Seed 4
• May 17-18: Round 2: Seed 3 v Seed 2; Seed 4 v Seed 1
• May 31 - June 1: Seed 1 v Seed 2; Seed 3 v Seed 4 (Neutral)
• June 7-8: Preliminary Quarter-Finals
• June 14-15: Quarter-Finals
• June 21-22: Semi-Finals
• Saturday July 12: Final