THE MEETING OF Laois and Armagh was the standout tie that emerged from this morning’s first-round draw for the All-Ireland football qualifiers.
However, the attendance at the Round 1A game looks likely to be detrimentally impacted by a clash with one of the Republic of Ireland’s games at Euro 2016.
Laois will take on Armagh at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise on Saturday, 18 June at 3.30pm — when Ireland’s meeting with Belgium will be entering the final 15 minutes or so.
The game, which will be the second Group E fixture for Martin O’Neill’s side, is due to kick-off at 2pm Irish time in Bordeaux.
Fans may be further tempted to give O’Moore Park a skip by the fact that the Laois-Armagh game will also be broadcast live by RTÉ.
The two other first-round games that are set to take place on the same day — Derry versus Louth or Meath, Carlow versus Wicklow — will begin at 5pm and 7pm respectively.
All Ireland football qualifiers — Round 1A
Saturday, 18 June
Laois v Armagh, O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 3.30pm
Derry v Loser of Louth/Meath, Owenbeg, 5pm
Carlow v Wicklow, Netwatch Cullen Park, 7pm
Sunday, 19 June
Leitrim v Waterford, Carrick-on-Shannon, 2pm
All Ireland football qualifiers — Round 1B
Down v Longford
Antrim v Limerick
Loser of Offaly/Westmeath v London
Wexford v Loser of Fermanagh/Donegal
The Round 1B fixtures will take place on the weekend 25/26 June and the Central Competitions Control Committee will confirm those details next week.
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