By Michael McMullan

FERMANAGH manager Kieran Donnelly didn’t even want to talk about the Tailteann Cup after their defeat to Down on Saturday night in Brewster Park.

And it’s no surprise. It was total dejection. His side were hit by Down’s smash and grab victory with goals from Daniel Guinness and Ryan McEvoy after they led by seven points on two separate occasions in the second half.

When the dust settles and the Erne County take stock, they’re among the top seeds when the Tailteann Cup draw takes place for the group stages.

This weekend’s Leinster semi-final between Louth and Kildare will decide the final spot. The winners will advance to the Sam Maguire Cup, with the loser into the Tailteann Cup.

Here is the seedings for the Tailteann Cup. The competition will be played in group format, four groups of four.

Each group will have a team from each of the pots listed below.

The first round of games will take place on the weekend of May 10/11.

Seed 1: loser of Kildare/Louth, Offaly, Fermanagh and Westmeath
Seed 2: Sligo, Laois, Wexford and Limerick
Seed 3: Antrim, Leitrim, Wicklow and Carlow
Seed 4: Tipperary, Longford, London and Waterford

Fixtures
May 10/11 – Round 1
Seed 1 v Seed 3
Seed 2 v Seed 4
Seed 1 & 2 will have home venue.

May 17/18 – Round 2
Seed 3 v Seed 2
Seed 4 v Seed 1
Seed 3 & 4 will have home venue.

May 31/June 1
Round 3
Seed 1 v Seed 2
Seed 3 v Seed 4
Games will be played at neutral venues.

The top team in each group will advance to the quarter-finals.

The second placed teams advance to the preliminary quarter-finals where they will be drawn against New York and the three best placed teams who finish third in their group.

The final is fixed for Satyurday July 12.