SATURDAY 3 JUNE
Group 1
Cavan v Offaly, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 3pm
Laois v London, Parnell Park, 3pm
Group 2
Meath v Down, Parnell Park, 1pm
Tipperary v Waterford, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 1pm
SUNDAY 4 JUNE
Group 3
Limerick v Wicklow, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 1pm
Longford v Carlow, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 3pm
Group 4
Fermanagh v Antrim, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 3pm
Wexford v Leitrim, Parnell Park, 3pm, Parnell Park
ONLINE
Live blog on RTÉ.ie and the RTÉ News app.
TV
Meath v Down is live on GAAGO. Highlights on The Saturday Game and The Sunday Game, 9.30pm, RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
RADIO
Live updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday and Sunday Sport.
WEATHER
With high pressure positioned near Ireland we can expect largely dry and settled weather. There will be lots of sunshine and just a little patchy cloud. Afternoon highs will generally range from 18 to 24 degrees, warmest in the west. Irish Sea coastal areas will be cooler at times due to onshore breezes. For more go to met.ie.
16 down to 11 and then New York join the party
And so we edge closer to the knockout stages in this the second staging of the competition. The top team in each group will progress to the last eight, where they will have home advantage.
The second-placed team in each group shall have home venue in the preliminary quarter-finals and will be joined there by only three of the best-placed third-placed teams. The fourth spot here will be taken by New York.
The criteria for deciding the best three across the groups shall be determined using the following criteria:
(i) Total number of points
(ii) Score difference subtracting the total scores against from the scores for
(iii) Highest total score for
(iv) Highest total goals for
(v) Lowest total goals against
(vi) A play-off
The draw for the preliminaries, which will broadcast live on RTÉ Radio's Sunday Sport at 5.30pm, shall be subject to the avoidance of repeat pairings from the group stage.
The preliminary quarter-finals will take place on Saturday 10 June. A week later, on Saturday 17 June, the quarter-finals are down for decision.
Croke Park will stage the semi-finals on Sunday 25 June, with both games live on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and on RTÉ Radio's Sunday Sport.
The 2023 Tailteann Cup final will take place ahead of the first All-Ireland SFC semi-final at Croke Park on Saturday 15 July, with live coverage on RTÉ television and radio.
The permutations
Cavan, beaten finalists last year and favouriites to go one better this time, need only a draw against Offaly to secure top spot. A loss against the Faithful would see them finish second.
Offaly, who claimed a draw late on against Laois in the last round, know that even if they lose to the Breffni and Billy Sheehan's side get the win against London, scoring difference is in their favour with regard to taking the runner-up spot.
London need to win to have any chance of seeing more action in the competition.
Down and Meath are gearing up for a Parnell Park showdown to see who will top the section and who'll be playing again in a week's time.
On no points and with an inferior scoring difference to others, Waterford and Tipperary must look for favourable outcomes elsewhere if they are to stay alive.
The winner in Páirc Uí Chaoimh will hope that Laois and Wexford (Group 4) both lose or draw and that there is a winner in the Longford v Carlow (Group 3) clash.
Limerick, after wins against Longford and Carlow, are in pole position to take top spot here. They face a Wicklow side, who after getting promotion to Division 3 in the spring, have disappointed so far.
A draw for the Shannonsiders will guarantee their quarter-final berth. Even a loss against the Garden County and stalemate between Longford and Carlow would do. The latter outcome would see Longford take second spot due to their superior score difference.
Wicklow, who lost to both Longford and Carlow, will lose out on the head-to-head to whoever is the vanquished in Portlaoise even if they overcome Limerick.
Antrim are guaranteed a place in the top two and will head affairs if they avoid defeat against Fermanagh.
The Ernesiders, obviously, must win to top the section. However, a loss to their Ulster rivals and Wexford winning against Leitrim, could leave them vulnerable to losing out on second place, though the Slaneysiders would need a significant victory to bring the scoring difference in their favour.
Indeed a draw for Wexford could see them miss out on a preliminary quarter-final if either Tipperary or Waterford can keep the scoreboard operator busy by the banks of the Lee.
As for Andy Moran's Leitrim, well they have to beat Wexford and also hope a big score can be chalked up at Parnell Park if they are to have any chance of progressing.
