EVER since their introduction eight years ago, the All-Ireland qualifiers have been regarded as a vipers' nest, whose inhabitants are ideally poised to slither quietly back into the championship fray and bite complacent 'Sam' aspirants.

The decision to jettison the controversial two-year experiment of barring Division 4 teams (unless they reached a provincial final) means the format returns to four rounds this summer, which brings what some regard merely as 'cannon-fodder' for the big guns back into the draw.

Yet no one can afford to let their guard down.

Sligo and Fermanagh are two counties who have taken big scalps during long qualifier summers and, in individual shocks, Derry still have nightmares about being dumped by Longford in 2006, while Limerick's defeat of Meath last year had reverberations which are still being felt in the Royal county.

As soon as the 2009 provincial championship draws were made it was clear that the first round of the qualifiers could have some real potential land mines, which was proven when Monaghan and Armagh dropped into the draw within the first three weeks of action.

Many involved let out a deep sigh of relief when these Ulster rivals were drawn to meet, while the all-Leinster clash of Offaly and Wexford should be another big first-round dog-fight.

Half of this year's qualifier starters also took the back-door route last year and five of them -- Down, Louth, Meath, Donegal and Longford -- are there for the third year running.

So for many, even one single win on this year's ultra-competitive back-door route will represent a lifeline, which is exactly why no one is ever safe in the treacherous snake-pit that is the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Armagh

CONSIDERING they racked up five Ulster titles since 2001, the Orchard boys are not exactly back-door regulars and their previous experience of it has been mostly good: unbeaten in the 2003 qualifiers and a win over Donegal in 2007 before losing to Derry by a point.

An unlucky Ulster draw and the accumulated loss of so many iconic names has seen many write them off this year and another tricky draw pits them against Monaghan. Stephen Kernan is a loss now but they have the depth and a good record against the Farney men.

2009 Ulster SFC : Tyrone 2-10 Armagh 1-10.

Qualifier Record (2001-2008): P8, W6, D0, L2.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 25/1; Now: 50/1.

Carlow

BACK in the qualifiers after a two-year absence, Carlow's last win at this stage was against Offaly in 2005 but this time they've got a pig of a draw, all the way up to Ballybofey and a county that doesn't hold good memories for them. The last time Carlow footballers ventured to Donegal they got an NFL pasting and lost manager Mick Condon, who resigned over late-night drinking among his squad. This one pits Luke Dempsey's Division 4 side against a Division 1 team with a lot to prove after losing to Antrim so they're up against it.

2009 Leinster SFC: Louth 1-13 Carlow 1-11.

Qualifier Record: P9, W3, D0, L6.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 1000/1; Now: 1000/1.

Donegal

JOHN JOE Doherty's gamble on starting so many players against Antrim who didn't play during the NFL has seen him take some flak and he and his players are on a serious mission to recover their reputation. Donegal only have a 50:50 qualifier history but traditionally do well against non-Ulster teams in it (they defeated Roscommon and were pipped by Monaghan last year) and with home advantage and bruised pride, should have no problem with the first hurdle.

2009 Ulster SFC: Antrim 1-10 Donegal 0-12.

Qualifier Record: P22, W12, D2, L8.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 50/1; Now: 100/1.

Down

AFTER losing a Division 3 final to Tipperary, there was further ignominy when Down lost to Fermanagh first day out, though not such a big surprise considering it was in Enniskillen and their game plan centred around a clearly unfit Benny Coulter. Down's bad qualifier record improved with last year's defeat of Offaly and Laois before losing to in-form Wexford and this year's first-round draw -- home to London -- has been kind, but unless they put a run together the management will fall.

2009 Ulster SFC: Fermanagh 0-13 Down 0-10.

Qualifier Record: P12, W4, D0, L8.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 50/1; Now: 80/1.

Fermanagh

HAVE never recovered the same form that saw them blitz through the qualifiers to reach the '04 All-Ireland semis, though are still expected to do it under Malachy O'Rourke, who took them to NFL Division 3 and Ulster finals last year. Looked to have solved their free-taking problems but looked ropey up front again against Cavan.

Mark Murphy has since returned to Australia for work and new full-forward Ryan Carson is already travelling over and back from England. Kildare knocked them out in the third round last summer and a trip to Aughrim is another potential banana-skin.

2009 Ulster SFC: Fermanagh 0-13 Down 0-10; Cavan 0-13 Fermanagh 1-9.

Qualifier Record: P17, W11, D0, L6.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 100/1; Now: 200/1.

Leitrim

THEY may have a terrible nil-from-seven record, but no county has been unluckier in the qualifiers than Leitrim, for whom 'extra-time' is another dirty word.

Losing by a point to Roscommon ('03), after extra-time to Meath ('05), by a point to Sligo ('06) and to Donegal in extra-time last year; can new managers Mickey Moran and John Morrisson break that pattern, especially without Emlyn Mulligan? Longford is virtually a derby but they've home advantage and if they can sort out their full-back line again they can break their qualifiers duck.

2009 Connacht SFC: Roscommon 2-13 Leitrim 2-9.

Qualifier Record: P7, W0, D0, L7.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 500/1; Now: 750/1.

London

NOEL Dunning's Exiles face a tough trip to the Marshes and this clash will attract attention because it looks likely to pit Johnny Hughes -- a former Down U-21 who went to London to work three months ago -- in a marking role against his brother Daniel.

Another team returning into the draw for the first time in three years, London's last big championship scalp was that of Sligo in last year's Tommy Murphy Cup quarter-finals. Former Galway senior Paul Geraghty is their star man but Down have too much depth for them.

2009 Connacht SFC: Galway 1-18, London 1-7.

Qualifier Record: P5, W0, D0, L5.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 10,000/1; Now: 10,000/1.

Longford

INJURIES and absences have all conspired against Glenn Ryan in his first season in senior inter-county management. Then he got his old master Micko in Leinster and came off worst, though only lost to a late goal after trailing by seven points early on.

Apart from 2006, when they went down to Kerry in Round 4, Longford have never really been able to lift themselves for the qualifiers. They're paired with Leitrim, against whom they've a good league record, but it may be a year too early under Ryan.

2009 Leinster SFC: Wicklow 2-12 Longford 1-13. Qualifier Record: P14, W6, D0, L8.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 500/1; Now: 500/1.

Louth

On their day, when they spray the ball about, Louth can do the business and they scored 1-6 to 0-1 at one stage in their loss to Laois. They met Tipperary in the very first qualifier game back in '01 (won by two points in Clonmel) and this one's a real grudge game as Tipp won by four points in Thurles in this year's Division 3 meeting, which lost Louth promotion.

With two games under their belt and the county reaching the Leinster junior final, this is Louth's chance to replicate their 2007 last 12 qualifier heroics.

2009 Leinster SFC: Louth 1-13 Carlow 1-11; Louth 1-11 Laois 1-15.

Qualifier Record: P17, W8, D1, L8.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 500/1; Now: 500/1.

Meath

THERE was only two points between them and Dublin but the Blues shot 17 wides, which reflects badly on the Royals' defence. Meath have a relatively kind first-round draw as it's in Navan and Waterford look likely to be without their key dual players. After last year's shock first-round qualifier defeat by Limerick (4-12 to 4-3), which prompted Colm Coyle to quit and Darren Fay and Graham Geraghty to retire, the Royals will hardly be caught again.

2009 Leinster SFC: Dublin 0-14 Meath 0-12.

Qualifier Record: P18, W11, D0, L7.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 33/1; Now: 66/1.

Monaghan

It's make-or-break time for this Monaghan team and long-time manager Seamus 'Banty' McEnaney, with Clones holding no fears for Armagh, who beat them there in the 2001 qualifiers and also in an Ulster replay in 2006.

Monaghan's reputation took a hammering after their clash with Derry so there's a lot of pride at stake here. Facing an Ulster team may actually suit them; they beat Derry and Donegal by a point in the '08 Qualifiers. Tommy Freeman would be a huge loss but if his suspension stands, it may, paradoxically, galvanise them.

2009 Ulster SFC: Derry 1-10 Monaghan 0-10.

Qualifier Record: P16, W8, D0, L8.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 25/1; Now: 50/1.

Offaly

Forget the four-point margin, Offaly's game with Kildare was over after 10 minutes, throwing further pressure on a team already under the cosh after ousting one manager.

Replacement boss Tom Cribbin has got it in the neck since for not starting so many veterans who made a difference when they came on against the Lilies and his team selection will be closely scrutinised. Wexford away is a very tough draw but Offaly got the better of Wexford in a cracking Leinster semi-final clash at Croke Park in '06.

2009 Leinster SFC: Kildare 1-16 Offaly 1-10.

Qualifier Record: P10, W3, D0, L7.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 200/1; Now: 200/1.

Tipperary

AS predicted after Tipp's historic Division 3 final defeat of Down, Limerick were waiting for them in the long grass, though John Evans' side contributed to their own downfall with a terribly jittery start.

Tipperary's only previous qualifier victory was against Carlow in 2003 but they're a far more polished, balanced side now. Having to travel to Drogheda to face a more experienced side is a big ask, but their youthful exuberance should ensure a real thriller.

2009 Munster SFC: Limerick 1-11 Tipperary 1-9.

Qualifier Record: P7, W1, D0, L6.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 500/1; Now: 500/1.

Waterford

PERENNIAL frustrations -- being unable to get training together because of local club hurling matches -- stymied Waterford's preparations against Cork where they shipped a demoralising 14-point defeat.

They had access to dual stars like Gary Hurney and Shane Walsh for that game but that looks unlikely now so irrepressible manager John Kiely looks to take a severely depleted side on this tough road trip to Meath which lessens their chances of getting a historic first qualifier win.

2009 Munster SFC: Cork 2-18 Waterford 1-7.

Qualifier Record: P6, W0, D0, L6.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 1000/1; Now: 1000/1.

Wexford

SINCE last year's historic Leinster final appearance and subsequent ousting of Down and Armagh before going out to Tyrone, Wexford have dropped like a stone and will be saddled with the 'one-season wonder' tag unless they can pull something out of the qualifiers.

Injuries and absences contributed to a disastrous league run, and they've lost Matty Forde to back surgery since but Wexford Park is always worth a few points to them and they'll fancy themselves against a fellow-Leinster side like Offaly.

2009 Leinster SFC: Kildare 2-12 Wexford 0-11.

Qualifier Record: P11, W3, D1, L7.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 66/1; Now: 100/1.

Wicklow

EVEN with Tommy Walsh and James Stafford playing in only their first game of the season, Wicklow knocked out Longford. They also gave Westmeath a serious crack and when ousted from the qualifiers in 2007-08 they contested the Tommy Murphy final both years, winning it in '07.

But they lost three defenders to injury against Westmeath -- Damien Power, Paddy Dalton and Alan Byrne -- which is a big loss considering Fermanagh's mobility and that may prove fatal chasing their first qualifier victory since beating London in 2002.

2009 Leinster SFC: Wicklow 2-12 Longford 1-13; Westmeath 0-16, Wicklow 1-10.

Qualifier Record: P8, W2, D0, L6.

Ladbrokes All-Ireland Betting: Pre-C'Ship: 500/1; Now: 500/1.

All-Ireland qualifiers

SFC Round 1

SATURDAY, July 4

(All 7.0 unless stated).

Monaghan v Armagh, Clones

Last championship clash: Armagh 1-13 Monaghan 0-10 (2006 Ulster quarter-final replay)

Wexford v Offaly, Wexford Park, 2.30

Last championship clash: Offaly 2-15 Wexford 1-14 (2006 Leinster Semi-final)

Louth v Tipperary, Drogheda

Last championship clash: Louth 1-13 Tipperary 1-8 (2001 AI Qualifiers, Rd 1)

Leitrim v Longford, Carrick-on-Shannon

Last championship clash: None

Wicklow v Fermanagh, Aughrim

Last championship clash: None

Donegal v Carlow, Ballybofey

Last championship clash: None

Meath v Waterford, Navan

Last championship clash: None

London v Down, Newry

Last championship clash: None

- Cliona Foley