Forward planning? Here's what lies ahead for Donegal in the All-Ireland SFC series

Donegal’s involvement in the round-robin stage of the All-Ireland SFC has now become clearer after they retained the Ulster SFC.

The side managed by Jim McGuinness came through an epic provincial final on a 2-23 to 0-28 against Armagh to make sure the Anglo Celt Cup will stay in the hills for the winter.

As Ulster champions, Donegal are in Group 1 of the round-robin stage, joined by beaten Connacht finalists Mayo, as well as Tyrone and Cavan. Galway were winners in the west, with Kerry easing past Clare in Munster and Louth captured a first Leinster crown since 1957 when they beat Meath.

Full draw - seeds 1, 2, 3, 4
Group 1: Donegal, Mayo, Tyrone, Cavan
Group 2: Kerry, Meath, Roscommon, Cork
Group 3: Louth, Clare, Monaghan, Down
Group 4: Galway, Armagh, Dublin, Derry

Series 1 sees 1v3 and 2v4, with the second series being 4v1 and 3v2, with the last series played at neutral venues yet to be confirmed, 1v2 and 3v4.

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The first series will be broken over two weekends, with the groups involving the Ulster and Leinster finalists all lining out on the second of those weekends.

Donegal are home to Tyrone on either May 24 or 25, away to Cavan on May 31/June 1 and take on Mayo at a neutral venue on June 14/15.

The four group winners will qualify automatically for the All-Ireland quarter-finals, which are down for the weekend of June  27/28. The teams who finish second and third will play-off in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals on June 22/22. The All-Ireland semi-finals will be contested on July 12/13 with the final to be played on the weekend on July 26/27.