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Action from last year's Limerick and Longford clash. INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Backdoor

8 thoughts from today's All-Ireland SFC first round qualifier draw

16 teams were in the draw this morning for the opening backdoor games.

1. Offaly v Tyrone

This will be a historic first senior football championship meeting between the counties but it is a novel test that an Offaly team, looking to build on their encouraging showing in Leinster against Kildare, could have done without.

The beaten Division 4 finalists clashing against the beaten Division 1 finalists should go the way of Mickey Harte’s side. Offaly do have home advantage and Tyrone have unhappy memories from a trip to the Midlands going back to their 2006 defeat to Laois but they’re unlikely to trip up here.

2. Galway v Tipperary

For the first time in 109 years, Galway and Tipperary will clash in a senior football championship game. Back then in 1904, Tipperary won out in the All-Ireland semi-final by 2-4 to 0-4.

On this occasion both teams will enter this game on the back of crushing 17-point defeats in their provincial arenas to Mayo and Kerry respectively. The key issue will be who has recovered the best in the interim period from being at a low ebb at the end of May.

Galway will enjoy home advantage but considering that they lost last summer to an Antrim team who were subsequently defeated by Tipperary in the qualifiers, Alan Mulholland’s side cannot afford a lax approach to this game.

3. Derry v Sligo

This pairing between the North-West counties is probably the standout tie of a draw that did not generate huge excitement. The interest lies in the meeting of two counties who would both have held aspirations of travelling far in their respective provinces.

Derry were coming off the back of a Division 2 title win and had the benefit of home advantage against Down in their Ulster quarter-final but still came unstuck. Sligo’s provincial defeat was more striking as they were defeated by London and the subsequent controversy that erupted over Eamonn O’Hara’s comments on The Sunday Game.

Derry may be the safer bet if they can channel their positive league form and tighten up at the back.

Derry boss Brian McIver

4. Westmeath v Fermanagh

Peter Canavan bemoaned Fermanagh’s lack of match practice before yesterday’s loss to Cavan and attributed their slow start to that level of inactivity. They will need to sharpen up for their trip to Mullingar to face Westmeath.

Pat Flanagan’s side suffered a chastening experience last time out against Dublin but they should be more comfortable in Cusack Park and have the talent to acquit themselves in a better fashion against the Erne County.

5. Carlow v Laois

After Laois suffered a surprising defeat in their first round game in Leinster last year, they began their qualifier rehabilitation against Carlow. That is the task that faces Justin McNulty again this time around after they were dismantled by Louth recently.

Carlow will have the home comforts of Dr Cullen Park on this occasion and Laois have seen some big names depart to the USA as well. It could be a tricky test for Laois against their near neighbors.

6. Armagh v Wicklow

Two years ago, Armagh travelled to Aughrim and defeated Wicklow in a round two qualifier replay by 2-9 to 0-10. It transpired to be Mick O’Dwyer’s last game in charge of Wicklow but his former county should not travel without hope for this game.

In that 2011 drawn tie, they drew 2-13 to 0-19 away to Armagh. They produced enough in Saturday night’s loss to Meath to furnish them with optimism and it will be interesting to see how Armagh fight back after their lacklustre showing against Cavan, the criticism of Paul Grimley’s tactics and the loss of players to America.

Wicklow manager Harry Murphy and goalkeeper John Flynn.

7. Louth v Antrim

Louth have the benefits of home advantage for a second successive game after their Leinster quarter-final against Wexford was held in Drogheda recently. They lost that game but have shown enough in their two games to date to suggest they pack a strong punch.

Antrim in contrast were meek in their second-half showing against a 14-man Monaghan and will need vast improvements to enjoy a rewarding trip here.

8. Longford v Limerick

The obvious point of reference here is last year’s qualifier between the sides in Pearse Park. Limerick grabbed a late score from Derry O’Connor to tie the teams at 1-12 to 0-15 after normal time before then cutting loose in extra-time to fashion a 1-21 to 1-15 triumph.

Since then Limerick have gained league promotion and Longford have suffered league relegation. But the scale of Limerick’s loss to Cork was damaging while Longford had their own setback in losing a game against Wicklow they would have been realistically targeting a victory from.

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