What's next for Donegal in the new-look Sam Maguire round-robin stages?

Donegal’s 2-13 to 1-11 loss to Down in Newry on Sunday means that Aidan O’Rourke’s side’s Ulster ambitions are over, but they will still be involved in the All-Ireland SFC.

Ultimately the 16 counties that will compete in Round One the All-Ireland series are to be seeded in the following way:

First seeds: The four provincial champions; Second seeds: The four provincial runners-up; Third seeds: The next four highest ranked teams at the conclusion of the league; Fourth seeds: The next four highest ranked teams at the conclusion of the league. There is one exception - the previous year's Tailteann Cup winner, Westmeath.

So, for example, with the Leinster SFC at the semi-final stage, let’s presume that Dublin overcome Kildare on Sunday, with Louth facing Offaly in the other last four tie. Following a decent Division 2 campaign, Louth would enter that match as favourites to progress, with Dublin expected to win the provincial championship.

Kerry, the current All-Ireland champions, will be odds-on to win the Munster SFC against Clare and similarly in Connacht, Galway would be expected to defeat an improving Sligo side, although both would take top two seeded spots.

Ulster is always a minefield although last year’s winners Derry are tipped by most to retain their crown and Armagh are perhaps the most likely finalists, although Monaghan and Down would certainly harbour hopes of taking the Anglo-Celt.

Should Monaghan lose to Derry in the provincial semi-final, their league position - having survived in Division 1 - will prove enough to keep them in the Sam Maguire race, although Down, who lined out in Division 3, must make the Ulster SFC final to stay involved.

The third and fourth seeds are the sides who have already lost out in the provincial championships, not reaching the finals, plus Westmeath. They are graded on their league finishes.

So, using the above:

First seeds: Dublin, Kerry, Galway and Derry
Second seeds: Louth, Clare, Sligo and Armagh
Third seeds: Mayo, Roscommon, Tyrone, Monaghan
Fourth seeds: Donegal, Cork, Kildare and Westmeath

Teams who face one another in the provincial final cannot be drawn in the same group.

If Offaly beat Louth in their Leinster SFC semi-final or Down overcome Armagh, then Kildare will drop into the secondary competition, the Tailteann Cup. And if both Offaly and Down win their semi-finals, it means both Cork and Kildare will play in the Tailteann Cup.

The round robin fixtures will begin on May 21, with the Munster and Connacht finalists involved. The Ulster and Leinster finalists enter the round robin phase the following week, as their provincial finals follow Munster and Connacht.

Each team will play one home game, one away game and one game at a neutral venue, with Croke Park the chosen neutral venue during the round robin phase.

As fourth seeds, Donegal will open away to a seed two team, have a home fixture against the top seed in the group and then lock horns with the seed three at the neutral venue.

The four group winners advance into the All-Ireland quarter-finals. The second and third placed teams play in a Preliminary quarter-final (with the second-placed team holding home advantage) and the fourth placed teams in the groups are eliminated from the championship.