KILDARE’S ALL-IRELAND SFC round three qualifier with Limerick next Saturday has been scheduled for O’Moore Park in Portlaoise despite the Lilywhites having been drawn first in this morning’s draw which should have entitled them to home advantage.
Instead it is understood that the game has been switched to the nearby midlands venue due to the capacity of Kildare’s home ground, St Conleth’s Park in Newbridge, being reduced from approximately 13,000 to 4,000 at the end of last year following a health and safety survey which was carried out on all inter-county stadiums around the country. Throw-in time in O’Moore Park will be at 7pm.
Elsewhere the glamour clash of the round three draw will see Kerry face Tyrone in Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney at 5pm while Tipperary and Antrim get the ball rolling in the first game of the day in Thurles at 3pm, and Leitrim entertain Laois in Carrick-on-Shannon at 7pm.
Saturday July 21st
All-Ireland SFC Round 3: Tipperary v Antrim, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 3pm, (Ref TBC); Kerry v Tyrone, Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, 5pm, (Ref TBC); Kildare v Limerick, O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 7pm, (Ref TBC); Leitrim v Laois, Páirc Sean MacDiarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon, 7pm, (Ref TBC).
The fixture details have also been announced for Sunday week’s All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-finals with a double-header set to take place in Semple Stadium while the two minor matches will take place the previous day in Tullamore.
Saturday July 28th
All-Ireland MHC quarter-finals: Down v Clare, O’Connor Park, Tullamore, 2pm, (Ref TBC); Galway v Wexford, O’Connor Park, Tullamore, 4pm, (Ref TBC).
Sunday July 29th
All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals: Waterford v Cork, Semple Stadium, 2pm, (Ref TBC); Kilkenny v Limerick, Semple Stadium, 4pm, (Ref TBC).
Meanwhile next Sunday the focus will be on Leinster and Ulster as their respective provincial senior and minor football finals are down for decision.
Sunday July 22nd
Leinster SFC final: Dublin v Meath, Croke Park, 4pm, (Ref: Marty Duffy, Sligo), (RTE).
Leinster MFC final: Dublin v Meath, Croke Park, 2pm, (Ref: Damien Brazil, Offaly).
Ulster SFC final: Down v Donegal, Clones, 2pm, (Ref: Joe McQuillan, Cavan), (TV3 & BBC).
Ulster MFC final: Tyrone v Monaghan, Clones, 12pm, (Ref: Noel Mooney, Cavan).
Finally there will also be underage hurling action this week in Munster and Ulster with the semi-finals in the Bord Gáis Energy U21 hurling championship down for decision.
Wednesday July 18th
Munster U21HC semi-final: Limerick v Tipperary, Gaelic Grounds, 7.3opm, (Ref: Michael Wadding, Waterford), (TG4).
Ulster U21HC semi-finals: Down v Derry, Casement Park, 7.30pm, (Ref: Liam McAuley, Antrim); Antrim v Armagh, Páirc Esler, Newry, 7.30pm, (Ref: James Clarke, Cavan).
Thursday July 19th
Munster U21HC semi-final: Clare v Waterford, Cusack Park, Ennis, 7.30pm, (Ref: Johnny Ryan, Tippeary), (TG4)
