Dublin footballer Conal Keaney and Cork hurler John Gardiner were today named as the Vodafone GAA All Star Players of the Month for June on a day when the GAA also announced forthcoming All-Ireland fixtures and dates.
Keaney and Gardiner are both dual players and have now won monthly player awards for each code. Recognition for Keaney is well-timed as Dublin prepare for their Leinster final clash with Offaly at Croke Park this Sunday.
GAA president Nickey Brennan, who presented the awards at the Dublin Westbury Hotel today, praised the two players. "Very special qualities are demanded of our footballers ands hurlers in the white heat of championship. Both Conal and John have consistently proven that they possess these qualities in abundance."
Dates and venues of upcoming fixtures have been listed below. The Tommy Murphy Cup final will be played in Croke Park on August 27th as the curtain raiser to the second Bank of Ireland All-Ireland football championship semi-final.
Upcoming fixtures announced
Third Round All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers
Saturday, July 15th
Tbc - Meath v Laois (Navan)
7.00pm - Longford v Derry (Pearse Park)
7.00pm - Sligo v Westmeath (Markievicz Park)
7.00pm - Fermanagh v Wexford (Enniskillen)
All Ireland SHC Quarter-finals
Saturday, July 22nd
5.15pm - Cork v Limerick (Semple Stadium)
7.00pm - Kilkenny v Galway (Semple Stadium)
Sunday, July 23rd
2.15pm - Clare v Wexford (Croke Park)
4.00pm - Tipperary v Waterford (Croke Park)
Hurling Championship Relegation Final
Saturday, July 15th
2.00pm - Dublin v Westmeath (Tullamore)
Tommy Murphy Cup Draw
Round 1 (weekend of July 22nd)
Carlow v Wicklow
Waterford v Tipperary
Clare v Louth
Antrim v Kilkenny
Roscommon v Cavan
Quarter-Finals (weekend of July 29th)
Carlow/Wicklow v London
Waterford/Tipperary v Leitrim
Clare/Louth v Monaghan
Antrim/Kilkenny v Roscommon/Cavan
Semi-Finals (weekend of August 12th)
Carlow/Wicklow/London v Waterford/Tipperary/Leitrim
Clare/Louth/Monaghan v Antrim/Kilkenny/Roscommon/Cavan