The All-Ireland football champions Armagh will start the defence of their Ulster crown away to Monaghan.

They will play the first match of the 2003 Championship in a first round clash to determine who goes through to meet Down in the quarter-finals.

It may mean an extra match for the Orchard county, but team manager Joe Kernan will be satisfied they can reach the semi-fnals without having to play any of the provincial big guns.

The pick of the Ulster matches is undoubtedly the Tyrone v Derry clash.

Draw for the 2003 Bank of Ireland Football Championship

Leinster - first round
Laois v Wexford
Wicklow v Louth
Westmeath v Carlow

Quarter-finals
Laois or Wexford v Offaly
Wicklow or Louth v Dublin
Westmeath or Carlow v Meath
Longford v Kildare

Connacht - quarter-finals
Leitrim v New York
Sligo v London
Roscommon v Galway

Semi-finals
Roscommon or Galway v Leitrim or New York
Mayo v Sligo or London

Ulster - first round
Monaghan v Armagh

Quarter-finals
Antrim v Cavan
Tyrone v Derry
Fermanagh v Donegal
Down v Monaghan or Armagh

Munster - quarter-finals
Tipperary v Waterford
Cork v Limerick

Semi-finals
Kerry v Tipperary or Waterford
Clare v Cork or Limerick

Guinness Hurling Championship

Munster - quarter-finals
Kerry v Waterford
Tipperary v Clare

Semi-finals
Limerick v Kerry or Waterford
Cork v Tipperary or Clare

Leinster - semi-finals
Qualifiers v Kilkenny
Offaly v Wexford

Ulster semi-finals
Derry v New York
Antrim or London v Down