Tipperary and Cavan's relegation to Division Four is cause for "embarrassment", according to former Tyrone footballer Sean Cavanagh.
The Munster and Ulster provincial champions came out on the losing side of their Division Three relegation play-off last weekend. Cavan lost out to Wicklow 3-11 to 0-18 while Tipperary were beaten 1-13 to 0-9 by Longford.
It comes after both sides contested All-Ireland semi-finals last December.
Speaking on RTE's League Sunday, Sean Cavanagh was forthright in his assessment: "It is an embarrassment."
They had last summer which was amazing. Cavan and Tipperary winning, all the nostalgia that went with it. Totally deserving provincial champions.
I know Pat said they would have come into this year on a low, I don't think they would have. I think they would have come into this year thinking, 'lads, we need to kick on here.' We need to now back up our provincial success with league success.
"To go to Division Four for teams that are very proud and on that high, it is a serious indictment on the county. They will be sore."
For Mickey Graham's outfit, it is their third relegation in a row. They did comfortably beat Longford last month and only lost out to Fermanagh by a point. The Breffni county must now recover for their clash with Tyrone in Omagh on July 10.
Tipperary meanwhile will play the winner of Clare vs Kerry on the same date in the Munster Championship semi-final.
It will take another huge shock for both provincial champions to avoid a disappointing 2021.
