Why there's more than provincial finals on the line this week
While Down and Westmeath seek to advance to their respective provincial finals this weekend, they are also both playing for a place in their year's All-Ireland SFC.
If qualifying for a provincial final isn't reward enough, there is a lot more on the line in this weekend's Ulster and Leinster football semi-finals. Both Down and Westmeath will enter with high hopes of building on their shock victories over Donegal and Meath respectively, but defeat for either could bring much greater ramifications. During Monday's Tailteann Cup draw, 'Team 16' was plucked from the hat and given home advantage against Leitrim in the opening round, set for the weekend of 16/17 May.
But who will be said team? By Sunday evening, it will be either Down, Westmeath or perhaps even Cavan, so this is how that particular permutation will work out. The permutations It's quite simple for both Down and Westmeath: win their provincial semi-final and it will be Sam Maguire football this summer, but lose and it gets a little complicated.
Should both suffer defeat this weekend, then Westmeath will drop into the Tailteann Cup as Down, by way of their Division Three league success, will have the higher ranking. Should one win and the other lose, then the winner plays in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and the loser drops into the second-tier competition. However, if both are to come through as winners, Cavan will drop into the Tailteann Cup, despite surviving relegation from Division Two this year.
That is because Kildare, who finished below the Breffnimen in the league, are guaranteed their place in the race for Sam Maguire due to their Tailteann Cup success last year. So what are the chances for each? Down will ride into Clones to face neighbours Armagh with an added spring in their step.