Some of the 24 round-robin matches look like they will carry more importance than others
Dublin captain James McCarthy with Louth manager Ger Brennan after last Sunday’s Leinster SFC final at Croke Park. Photo: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
With the provincial championships concluded, the Sam Maguire Cup round-robin groups have become clear with the pairings for the 24 games over the next five weekends fixed.
The rationale for keeping the third-placed teams in each group ‘in’ with an away play-off game remains, to keep every side with something to play for on the last day. Last year, only Clare fell through the cracks on that front. They were first ‘out’ and later joined by Sligo, Westmeath and Louth, along expected lines once Louth lost to Cork in their opening game.
