IT SEEMS THAT the dust has barely settled on the 2011 GAA championship season – but there’s little rest for the wicked, with the draws for the 2012 Championships made this evening.
Reigning All-Ireland hurling champions Kilkenny will begin their Leinster defence against either Dublin, Westmeath or Antrim, while football champions Dublin will consider themselves happy with their draw, which will pit them against Louth or Westmeath in the opener.
The Connacht football championship may still breed the ‘dream final’ between Galway and Mayo, who are kept apart, though there is no such probability in Munster, where Cork will meet Kerry, or Tipperary, at the semi-final stage.
The Ulster football championship will fire into life with some big early ties – including Armagh v Tyrone, and the potential clash of Derry and Donegal (pending the latter overcoming Cavan).
In hurling, the Munster championship will begin with the clash of Tipperary and Limerick, with the winner facing Cork; in the other semi-final, there is the mouthwatering prospect of Clare – likely to have Davy Fitzgerald as manager – facing Fitz’s old charges Waterford.
The draw in full is produced below.
Football
Leinster Senior Football Championship
Preliminary round: Westmeath v Louth; Longford v Laois; Meath v Wicklow
Quarter-finals: (Westmeath/Louth) v Dublin; (Longford/Laois) v Wexford; (Meath/Wicklow) v Carlow; Offaly v Kildare
Semi-finals: Westmeath/Louth/Dublin v Longford/Laois/Wexford; Meath/Wicklow/Carlow v Offaly/Kildare
Connacht Senior Football Championship
Quarter-finals: New York v Sligo; London v Leitrim; Galway v Roscommon
Semi-finals: (New York/Sligo) v (Galway/Roscommon); Mayo v (London/Leitrim)
Ulster Senior Football Championship
Quarter-finals: (Cavan/Donegal) v Derry; Fermanagh v Down; Monaghan v Antrim; Armagh v Tyrone
Semi-finals: Cavan/Donegal/Derry v Fermanagh/Down; Monaghan/Antrim v Armagh/Tyrone
Munster Senior Football Championship
Quarter-final: Waterford v Limerick
Semi-finals: Clare v (Waterford/Limerick); Cork v (Kerry/Tipperary)
Hurling
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Preliminary: Westmeath v Antrim, Laois v Carlow
Quarter-finals: (Westmeath/Antrim) v Dublin; Offaly v Wexford; Galway v (Laois/Carlow)
Semi-finals: Galway/Laois/Carlow v Offaly/Wexford; Westmeath/Antrim/Dublin v Kilkenny
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
Quarter-final: Limerick v Tipperary
Semi-finals: Clare v Waterford; Cork v Limerick/Tipperary
Are you happy with your county’s draw? What’s the best game to look forward to? Leave your thoughts in the comments box below.
