Last night saw the draws for the 2020 Senior, Intermediate and Junior Championships take place and all three competitions threw up some interesting ties!
All Championships will ne knockout, and Armagh GAA will announce the dates, times and venues of the games in the coming days.
Senior
Crossmaglen once again enter the Championship as reigning champions and favourites to retain their crown and it’s Silverbridge who have been dealt the short straw and must take on the Rangers in the opening round.
Who ever comes through that opener will face the winners of Annaghmore and newly promoted Mullaghbawn in the quarter final.
Madden were a kick of a ball away from a place in the last four in 2019 and face last season beaten finalists Ballymacnab in the opening game, in what some may look on as the tie of the round.
The winners take on whoever comes through another tight contest between Cullyhanna and an improved Pearse Ogs side in the last eight.
The Harps begin their Championship quest with a favourable draw against St Peter’s while the winners will take on the winners of the evenly match contest, Killeavy and Grange.
Last seasons league winners Maghery meet Dromintee in the opening round with the winners facing who even comes through Granemore’s clash with Clann Eireann.
An even draw with all teams hopeful of getting over the first hurdle, and as the draw stands, the top four teams in Crossmaglen, Ballymacnab, Armagh Harps and Maghery look set to fill the semi finals spots, but as it’s knockout, anything can happen.
Intermediate
The tie of the round, and perhaps the tie of the Championship comes early on with last years beaten finalists Shane O’Neill’s taking on the might of Clan na Gael.
Whoever comes through that battle will be earmarked as the early favourites and will meet the winners of 2019 Junior League winners Clonmore and Wolfe Tones.
The two relegated sides from last season face off in the first round with Sarsfields and Culloville clashing. The winner will face the challenge of either An Port Mor or Tullysaran.
Similar to the hurling draw, Keady have been matched with rivals Middeltown in what promises to be a feisty affair. The award for the winners is a quarter final clash with Ballyhegan or Whitecross.
The 2019 Junior Champions Collegeland begin life in the Intermediate with a first round game against Carrickcruppen, the winner meeting St Paul’s or Tir na nOg in the last eight.
Junior
Early favourites Derrynoose and Forkhill earned a bye into the quarter final stages of the competition, as did St Michael’s Newtown.
Frokhill will meet the winners of Eire Og and Lissummon, who face off in the first round of the Championship.
Rivals Clady and Belleek were also drawn against each other, with the winners meeting whoever comes through Killeavy II’s tie with Dorsey.
Last season Derrynoose reached the final and will start their campaign with a class against either Crossmaglen II’s or Redmond O’Hanlon’s.
In the last quarter final it will be Newtown against the winners of Corrinshego and Mullabrack.
A exciting few weeks in store with so many quality games to look forward to. Check out this weeks podcast where we discuss the draw with Gaelic Life journalist Niall McCoy!
