Offaly have been drawn against Laois in the first round of next year's Leinster Senior Football Championship.

The last Leinster championship meeting between the counties was in 2024, when Offaly claimed a 2-13 to 1-8 win in Portlaoise.

The winners of next year's game will face Kildare in the quarter-finals so another battle between Offaly and the Lilywhites looks a strong possibility. Offaly and Kildare met in three competitive games in 2025, with the Faithful County winning two of them, including the Allianz Football League Division 3 final.

While Offaly clinched promotion from Division 3 earlier this year, Laois finished in sixth place, with only relegated teams Antrim and Leitrim behind them.

Offaly recorded a 2-19 to 1-17 away victory over Laois in this year's league campaign. In the group stages of the Tailteann Cup, however, it was Laois who came out on top by 3-18 to 3-16. That result ultimately meant Offaly had to play an away quarter-final where they were edged out by Kildare.

Meanwhile, Leinster champions Louth will meet Wexford in one of the four quarter-finals next year. The 2025 Leinster semi-finalists were guaranteed a place in next year's quarter-finals, with Wexford the team going straight into the last eight by the luck of the draw.

Dublin, Leinster champions every year from 2011 to 2024, will meet the winners of the Carlow vs Wicklow opening round game.

Westmeath have been drawn against Longford, with the winners to face Meath, who are Leinster finalists and All-Ireland semi-finalists this year.

Louth's Delaney Cup success last year - with the Leinster final versus Meath drawing a huge crowd to Croke Park - has given other counties in the province renewed hope.

2026 Leinster SFC draw

First round - Offaly v Laois; Carlow v Wicklow; Westmeath v Longford; .

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