The Ulster SFC finalist who was defeated this year - Armagh or Donegal - will enter the so-called "death crowd" in the All-Ireland series.

On May 10, the Ulster final losers will be put into the fourth group along with the defeated Connacht finalists (Galway or Mayo) and Dublin and Derry.

"Can I be the first to call it the 'death group'?" GAA said in a draw on Wednesday, Feargal McGill, director of the GAA's club and game administration.

The Ulster champion will join the winner of Sunday's Connacht final to enter the first group between Galway and Mayo, Tyrone and Caven.

On the surface, the fourth group was certainly the toughest, with all six potential teams reaching last year’s knockout round.

Derry and Dublin are guaranteed to be part of it, with both counties looking to rebound from disappointing provincial campaigns.

Derry lost to Dongal in Ulster's initial leg, while Dublin was shocked by Meath in the semifinal of Leinster last weekend, setting up the first Leinster final since 2010 without a voiceover.

Sam Maguire's first round will be held on the weekend of May 17/18, with finalists from Connacht and Munster participating.

Ulster and Leinster finalists will start their campaign next week.

Armagh hopes to retain the All-Ireland championship after winning the highest award in Gaelic football for the second time last summer.

After losing a free throw to Donegal in the Ulster final last year, Orchard County navigated a bunch of deaths that included Galway, Derry and Westmeath before defeating Roscommon, Kerry and Galway in the knockout round to lift Sam.

Down won a spot in the Sam Maguire series, which will win last year’s Tailteann Cup, where he will face the Leinster title, Munster runner-up and Monaghan in the third group.

In the Tail Cup, Antrim will face 2022 winners Westmeath, Limerick and London, while Fermanagh will be in contact with Wexford, Carlow and Longford.

Antrim, who has reached the quarter-finals in every season of the past two seasons, was relegated to fourth point.

All Ireland SFC

Group 1: Armagh/Donegal winner, Galway/Mayo Losers, Tyrone, Cavan

Group 2: Kerry/Claire Winner, Ross/Meis Loser, Roscomb, Coke

Group 3: Louth/Meath Winners, Kerry/Clare Losers, Monaghan, Down

Group 4: Galway/Mayo winner, Amma/Donegal loser, Dublin, Delhi

cup

Group 1: Kildare, Sligo, Leitrim, Tipperary

Group 2: Offaly, Laois, Wicklow, Waterford

Group 3: Westmes, Limerick, Antrim, London

Group 4: Fermanagh, Wexford, Carlow, Longford