Dublin have been drawn in the Group of Death with the Connacht champions, the Ulster runners-up and Derry as the draw for the All-Ireland SFC group stage was made at Croke Park this afternoon.
Dessie Farrell's side, placed in Pot 3 after suffering a first Leinster SFC defeat in 15 years last Sunday, were drawn in Group 4 alongside the winners of Mayo/Galway and the losers of the Ulster decider between Donegal and Armagh.
Paddy Tally's Derry, last year's league champions but relegated from Division 1 this year, completed the group, which is undisputedly the toughest quartet that has been thrown up in the three years of the present format.
That such a treacherous draw awaits the winners of this weekend's Connacht final could throw a further spotlight on the decision to schedule the group stage draw ahead of the provincial deciders.
The Ulster and Connacht finalists are also thrown together in the second most awkward group, with Group 1 containing the Ulster champions, the Connacht runners-up, as well as Tyrone and Cavan.
Group 2 sees the Munster champions (Kerry or Clare) drawn with the Leinster runners-up (Meath or Louth), with Roscommon and Cork occupying the other slots. The draw throwing up the possibility of a repeat meeting of Kerry and Cork should the favourites triumph in this weekend's Munster decider in Killarney.
In Group 3, Monaghan and Down will join the new Leinster champions and the Munster runners-up.
ALL-IRELAND SFC GROUP STAGE DRAW
Group 1: Armagh/Donegal winner, Galway/Mayo loser, Tyrone, Cavan
Group 2: Kerry/Clare winner, Louth/Meath loser, Roscommon, Cork
Group 3 Louth/Meath winner, Kerry/Clare loser, Monaghan, Down
Group 4: Galway/Mayo winner, Armagh/Donegal loser, Dublin, Derry
TAILTEANN CUP
Kildare and last year's semi-finalists Sligo have been drawn together in perhaps the most awkward quartet of the Tailteann Cup draw.
Brian Flanagan's side secured promotion back to Division 2 in the spring but agonisingly lost a straight shootout for the final All-Ireland SFC place in Sunday's Leinster semi-final clash with Louth.
They have been drawn in a group with Sligo, who lost to last year's champions Down after extra-time in a tense semi-final last year and ran Mayo relatively close in this month's Connacht quarter-final.
Leitrim and Tipperary complete the four places in Group 1.
Division 3 champions Offaly will face off against neighbours Laois, as well as Oisín McConville's Wicklow and perennial Division 4 strugglers Waterford in Group 2.
The luckless Westmeath, still winless in 2025, are drawn in a group with Division 4 champions Limerick, as well as Antrim and London in Group 3.
Group 4 sees top seeds Fermanagh, edged out by Down in the Ulster quarter-final, placed alongside Division 4 table toppers Wexford, and Carlow and Longford.
Group 1: Kildare, Sligo, Leitrim, Tipperary
Group 2: Offaly, Laois, Wicklow, Waterford
Group 3: Westmeath, Limerick, Antrim, London
Group 4: Fermanagh, Wexford, Carlow, Longford
*New York will enter at preliminary quarter-final stage
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