THE 2010 ALL-IRELAND finals may only have taken place weeks ago, but the draws for the 2011 GAA Championships have already taken place in Croke Park this evening – and has thrown up some mouthwatering ties to keep GAA fans amused over the summer.
The Ulster football championship has thrown up the most mouthwatering of this year’s ties, with All-Ireland finalists Down facing a resurgent Armagh, while last seas0n’s provincial final between Tyrone and Monaghan will be replayed in another quarter-final.
Leinster champions Meath have been given a difficult task if they are to retain provincial glory: they will have to face either Kildare or Wicklow in their quarter-final, and – should they get over that – could face Dublin, who meet the victors of Laois and Longford.
In Connacht, Galway and Mayo will meet in the semi-final provided that Mayo can get over their away trip to London; in Munster football, Kerry and All-Ireland champions Cork can only meet in a final, with the sides kept apart and both awarded quarter-final fixtures.
In hurling, All-Ireland champions Tipperary – without a manager since Liam Sheedy announced he was stepping down this morning – will face Cork in the quarter-final for the third successive year. The winner will face Clare in the semi-final, while Limerick and Waterford face-off in the other side.
In Leinster, Kilkenny – again given a semi-final bye – will face the winners of the quarter-final between Wexford and either Laois or Antrim. Dublin will face Offaly, with the winners meeting the victor of Galway’s quarter-final with Carlow or Westmeath.
Football
Munster GAA Football Senior Championship
Semi-finals: Limerick v Kerry/Tipperary; Waterford v Clare/Cork
Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship
Quarter-finals: New York v Roscommon; London v Mayo; Leitrim v Sligo
Semi-finals: Galway v London/Mayo; Leitrim/Sligo v NY/Roscommon
Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship
Quarter-finals: Derry v Fermanagh; Armagh v Down; Tyrone v Monaghan; Donegal/Antrim v Cavan
Semi-finals: Derry/Fermanagh v Armagh/Down; Tyrone/Monaghan v Donegal/Antrim/Cavan
Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship
Preliminary round: Kildare v Wicklow; Laois v Longford; Wexford v Offaly
Quarter-finals: Kildare/Wicklow v Meath; Laois/Longford v Dublin; Wexford/Offaly v Westmeath; Carlow v Louth
Semi-finals: Kildare/Wicklow/Meath v Laois/Longford/Dublin; Wexford/Offaly/Westmeath v Carlow/Louth
Hurling
Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship
Preliminary round: Antrim v Laois, Carlow v Westmeath
Quarter-finals: Dublin v Offaly; Antrim/Laois v Wexford; Galway v Carlow/Westmeath
Semi-finals: Dublin/Offaly v Galway/Carlow/Westmeath; Antrim/Laois/Wexford v Kilkenny
Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship
Semi-finals: Limerick v Waterford; Clare v Tipperary/Cork
