AS MUCH AS the club season is pushed and promoted to carry mass appeal, there is something about the excitement that abounds in late October when the All-Ireland football championship draw, as broadcast by RTÉ Radio today (Saturday), pairs Mickey Harte – now in charge of Derry – against Jim McGuinness, back as Donegal manager.
Back together, after all the years and the diversions and soccer careers and evangelism in Louth, and back duking it out for the Anglo-Celt Cup.
Derry have never done three Ulster titles in a row before, but with their newly-installed manager, Mickey Harte, it’s another installment of the Harte V McGuinness rivalry.
There’s an air of nostalgia to it, alright. But what lies ahead could be even more spicy. Should Derry beat Donegal, they get to face the winners of whoever emerges from the Monaghan and Cavan preliminary round, with the winners facing Tyrone.
And really, the notion of Mickey Harte facing a Tyrone team is off the chain box-office.
Kerry captain David Clifford with the Munster championship. Bryan Keane / INPHO
Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO
In Munster, Kerry are lined up for what might appear a repeat of the Munster final from this year as Clare will face the winners of Tipperary and Waterford, while Kerry of course need to take care of the winners of Limerick and Cork in the semi-final.
All Ireland champions Dublin have been paired with Longford in Leinster, and given they should come through that test without great difficulty, will renew a rivalry with Colm O’Rourke, who lies waiting on them as Meath manager.
In Connacht, champions Galway have a trip to London to get going in the defence of their province.
On the other side of the draw, New York gained their very first Connacht win on penalties this year against Leitrim but will find the going tougher against Mayo when they host them in Gaelic Park.
A win there gives Mayo the chance of atoning for their championship loss against Roscommon this season on Easter Sunday in the Connacht opener, one week on from their National League final triumph.
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Ulster draw pairs Mickey Harte against Jim McGuinness
LAST UPDATE | 21 Oct 2023
AS MUCH AS the club season is pushed and promoted to carry mass appeal, there is something about the excitement that abounds in late October when the All-Ireland football championship draw, as broadcast by RTÉ Radio today (Saturday), pairs Mickey Harte – now in charge of Derry – against Jim McGuinness, back as Donegal manager.
Back together, after all the years and the diversions and soccer careers and evangelism in Louth, and back duking it out for the Anglo-Celt Cup.
Derry have never done three Ulster titles in a row before, but with their newly-installed manager, Mickey Harte, it’s another installment of the Harte V McGuinness rivalry.
There’s an air of nostalgia to it, alright. But what lies ahead could be even more spicy. Should Derry beat Donegal, they get to face the winners of whoever emerges from the Monaghan and Cavan preliminary round, with the winners facing Tyrone.
And really, the notion of Mickey Harte facing a Tyrone team is off the chain box-office.
In Munster, Kerry are lined up for what might appear a repeat of the Munster final from this year as Clare will face the winners of Tipperary and Waterford, while Kerry of course need to take care of the winners of Limerick and Cork in the semi-final.
All Ireland champions Dublin have been paired with Longford in Leinster, and given they should come through that test without great difficulty, will renew a rivalry with Colm O’Rourke, who lies waiting on them as Meath manager.
In Connacht, champions Galway have a trip to London to get going in the defence of their province.
On the other side of the draw, New York gained their very first Connacht win on penalties this year against Leitrim but will find the going tougher against Mayo when they host them in Gaelic Park.
A win there gives Mayo the chance of atoning for their championship loss against Roscommon this season on Easter Sunday in the Connacht opener, one week on from their National League final triumph.
ULSTER
Preliminary round
Monaghan V Cavan
Quarter finals
Tyrone V Monaghan / Cavan
Down V Antrim
Fermanagh V Armagh
Derry V Donegal
Semi finals
Derry / Donegal V Tyrone / Monaghan / Cavan
Down / Antrim V Fermanagh / Armagh
MUNSTER
Quarter finals
Tipperary V Waterford
Limerick V Cork
Semi finals
Clare V Tipperary / Waterford
Limerick / Cork V Kerry
LEINSTER
Round 1
Westmeath V Wicklow
Carlow V Wexford
Longford V Meath
Quarter finals
Kildare V Westmeath / Wicklow
Louth V Carlow / Wexford
Dublin V Longford / Meath
Offaly V Laois
Semi finals
Kildare / Westmeath / Wicklow V Louth / Carlow / Wexford
Dublin / Longford / Meath V Offaly / Laois
CONNACHT
Quarter finals
New York V Mayo
London V Galway
Sligo V Leitrim
Semi finals
New York / Mayo V Roscommon
Sligo / Leitrim V London / Galway
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Draw Harte V McGuinness