The next two rounds of the qualifiers are shaping up to be a doozy

The hurling championship might've had all the fun in May, but the football is just getting warmed up.

Football might not have the Munster hurling championship but they have the qualifiers. The idea of pitting the best teams against each other so early in the tournament has seen the ash take all the drama, the plaudits and the TV rights but after every one of Munster's elite clash with each other across four games each in a rip-roaring five-team round robin, only two of them will be gone by the end of it all. All this just to get rid of 40 per cent of one province. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1003710920672141312 Anyway, the beauty of the football qualifiers is that it's proper championship in its most traditional sense. It's do or die, kill or be killed. Lose and you're out. Season over, no third chances, no going back. And the beauty of this year is that some the best teams are falling earlier than usual and, already in round one, you have Kildare, Mayo and Tyrone. A lot of the big hitters avoided each other in the first open draw but Tyrone will be tested by Meath whilst Kildare's trip to Derry isn't a cake walk. Following them to the back door route, Monaghan and Tipperary are awaiting in the next round and it means the potential for Round 2 is huge. Round 2 One side of the draw Wexford/Waterford Derry/Kildare Meath/Tyrone Wicklow/Cavan Offaly/Antrim Limerick/Mayo Westmeath/Armagh London/Louth The other side of the draw Clare Leitrim Monaghan Sligo Tipperary Carlow/Laois Dublin/Longford Donegal/Down You could have Kildare, Tyrone, Cavan and Mayo waiting on one side of the draw in Round 2 and each of them with a 50 per cent chance of being drawn against either Down, Tipperary, Monaghan or Laois/Carlow who both have serious momentum. If they don't meet in Round 2, they will in Round 3 as that then pits all the qualifier winners against each other before the provincial runners-up come in at Round 4 with a place in the Super 8s at stake this year. And it's all going to kick off in the next month. SFC qualifier schedule Round 1 June 9 Round 2 June 23 Round 3 June 30 Round 4 July 7/8