The new system in operation for the All-Ireland football qualifiers means that teams are grouped into Sections A and B, with the latter shaping up like a real heavyweight battle.

In every previous season all 16 teams in round 1 of the football qualifiers went into an open draw but this year they were grouped in two sections of eight - A & B.

Last Saturday saw the four games in Section A with Longford, Wicklow, Laois and Limerick the winners. This weekend sees four matches in Section B.

Round 2 will see the round 1 winners face the beaten provincial semi-finalists. It has already been predetermined which beaten semi-finalists will go into sections A or B.

The teams in section A will battle it out, with two sides still standing after rounds 2A and 3A are played. Whichever two counties emerge will take on beaten provincial finalists. The same happens in Section B.

On the A side, two teams will emerge from Longford, Wicklow, Laois and Limerick (round 1A winners) and Dublin or Wexford, Antrim, Tipperary, Sligo (A side beaten provincial semi-finalists) to face the beaten Connacht and Munster finalists.

Section B looks a lot more difficult as only two teams will be left standing from: Cavan or Westmeath, Tyrone or Louth, Carlow or Waterford, Down or Leitrim (round 1B winners) and Kildare or Meath, Armagh or Monaghan, Clare, Roscommon (B side beaten provincial semi-finalists). Whichever two teams to make it out of that group of death will face the beaten Leinster and Ulster finalists.

This year will also see a change to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, which will no longer take place over one weekend but will instead be split over the first two weekends in August.

Here are all the upcoming fixtures involving the sides in the football qualifiers:

Saturday 28 June

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 1B
Cavan v Westmeath, Breffni Park, 3pm
Tyrone v Louth, Healy Park, 2.30pm
Carlow v Waterford, Dr Cullen Park, 2pm

Sunday 29 June

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 1B
Down v Leitrim, Pairc Esler, 2pm

Saturday 5 July

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 2A
Beaten provincial semi-finalist v Laois
Beaten provincial semi-finalist v Longford
Beaten provincial semi-finalist v Wicklow
Beaten provincial semi-finalist v Limerick
(The A side beaten provincial semi-finalists comprise: Dublin/Wexford, Antrim, Tipperary, Sligo)

Saturday 12 July

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 2B
Beaten provincial semi-finalist v Round 1B winner (Cavan or Westmeath)
Beaten provincial semi-finalist v Round 1B winner (Tyrone or Louth)
Beaten provincial semi-finalist v Round 1B winner (Carlow or Waterford)
Beaten provincial semi-finalist v Round 1B winner (Down or Leitrim)
(The B side beaten provincial semi-finalists comprise: Kildare/Meath, Armagh/Monaghan, Clare, Roscommon)

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 3A
Round 2A winner v Round 2A winner
Round 2A winner v Round 2A winner

Saturday 19 July

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 3B
Round 2B winner v Round 2B winner
Round 2B winner v Round 2B winner

Saturday 26 July

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 4A
Beaten Munster finalist v Round 3A winner
Beaten Connacht finalist v Round 3A winner

Saturday 2 August

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 4B
Beaten Leinster finalist v Round 3B winner
Beaten Ulster finalist v Round 3B winner

Sunday 3 August

All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals
Connacht or Munster winner v Round 4A winner
Connacht or Munster winner v Round 4A winner

Saturday 9 August

All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals
Leinster or Ulster winner v Round 4B winner
Leinster or Ulster winner v Round 4B winner Tweet

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