Leitrim to face either Offaly or Carlow in Tailteann Cup second round

Leitrim's Ryan O'Rourke and Down's Ryan Magill at the launch of the Tailteann Cup Picture: Sportsfile

placeholder image — Leitrim's Ryan O'Rourke and Down's Ryan Magill at the launch of the Tailteann Cup Picture: Sportsfile

Tailteann Cup: Depending on result agqainst Down, Leitrim either away to Offaly or home to Carlow

They might not have played their first round game yet but Leitrim footballers know who they could be potentially facing in round two of this year's Tailteann Cup after the draw on Monday pitted them against either Offaly or Carlow, depending on how they fare in Newry this Saturday.

A win for Steven Poacher's side against his native county this Saturday May 16, in Pairc Esler would mean an away trip the following weekend against Offaly in Tullamore in round 2A while a defeat for the Green & Gold would mean a home draw against Allianz NFL Division 4 champions Carlow, both games due to take place over the weekend of May 23-24.

The anomalies of the structure means that Leitrim would benefit from a home game if they lose next Saturday but a win would see them on the road against an Offaly team who were relegated from Division 2 this year but defeated Clare by three points in Ennis, a huge 1-17 to 1-14 win on the road for the midlanders.

Carlow lost a titanic high scoring shootout against Antrim, the game going to extra time before the Saffrons triumphed 6-17 to 2-26 in Netwatch Cullen Park. The Barrowsiders inflicted a traumatic 4-22 to 2-5 defeat on Leitrim in the final game of the Division 4 campaign before going on to claim the title in Croke Park.

The rest of the draw saw fellow Division 4 sides Antrim and Tipperary drawn to face each other while Fermanagh will host Wexford and Laois travel to McGovern Emerald Park in Ruislip on the 2A side of the draw.

The teams on the 2B side of the draw are in the last chance saloon with the losers seeing their year come to an end - Leitrim's neighoburs Longford and Sligo have been handed contrasting draws with Sligo travelling to Fraher Field in Dungarvan to face Waterford while Longford head to Ennis to take on Clare. The final game sees Wicklow host Limerick in Aughrim.

Whoever wins in Round 2A will book their place in the Quarter-Finals, at which stage New York enter the competition, while the losers of round 2A face the winners of Round 2B, the winners qualifying for the knockout stages.

The draw for Round 2A and 2B of the Tailteann Cup is as follows:

Tailteann Cup Round 2A