UPDATED: The 2026 race for Sam Maguire

THE race for the Sam Maguire will heat up another level this weekend after Monday morning’s draw for Round 3 of the All-Ireland SFC.

Reigning champions Kerry will host Armagh. Donegal were last year’s beaten finalists and they’ll travel to Dublin

It follows another dramatic weekend that saw Louth snatch victory with the last kick of the game to pip Armagh in Inniskeen.

Monaghan eventually got back to winning ways, knocking Connacht champions out of the championship.

The winners from this coming weekend will book a place in the quarter-finals against one of the Round 2A winners from last weekend.

Repeat pairings were to be avoided in Monday’s Round 3 draw – Westmeath v Dublin, Armagh v Monaghan, Donegal v Kerry and Mayo v Monaghan.

Round 3 – June 20/21
Dublin v Donegal
Kerry v Armagh
Monaghan v Westmeath
Mayo v Meath

Quarter-finals – June 27/28
The four winners of Round 2A – Tyrone, Cork, Galway and Louth – shall be drawn to play against the four winners of Round 3, subject in the first instance to the avoidance of repeat provincial final pairings and where possible repeat pairings from Rounds 1 and 2.

All-Ireland semi-finals – July 11/12
Based on a draw, subject to the avoidance of repeat pairings from the championship, where possible.

Final – Sunday, July 26 (Replay – August 8)