Limerick entertain Tipperary and Bush

Gaelic Games: All four games in the first round of the All-Ireland hurling qualifier series will be played on Saturday week, June 26th, with the top billing of Limerick against Tipperary set for the Gaelic Grounds after Limerick won the toss for home venue.

That game also has the later throw-in time of 7.30 p.m, partly because of the visit of US President George Bush to nearby Dromoland Castle.

Galway finally get to start their championship campaign with a journey north to Ballycran, where they'll play Down - the losers in Sunday's Ulster hurling final. That game has a 4.30 p.m. throw-in.

The composition of the two other games has yet to be confirmed. Laois have to play Westmeath this weekend and the winner will play Clare. If it's Laois then the game will also be played at the Gaelic Grounds at 5.30 p.m. as a curtain raiser to the Limerick-Tipperary game. If Westmeath emerge they'll play in Mullingar at 4.30 p.m.

The final game involves Kilkenny and the loser of this Sunday's second Leinster semi-final, Dublin against Offaly. If Dublin lose they'll meet Kilkenny at Dr Cullen Park in Carlow and if Offaly lose they'll meet Kilkenny in Portlaoise. Both those throw-in times have yet to be confirmed.

Initially, the fixing of Limerick-Tipperary for the Gaelic Grounds caused some concern because of the clash with the visit of President Bush. Earlier that Saturday afternoon he is set to address a meeting of European Community leaders at Dromoland, some 10 miles outside Limerick, and the security operation in the area will be massive.

"Obviously that event was taken into consideration," said Fergal McGill of the GAA press office. "The Garda were consulted on these fixtures as they would always be, and it was approved. And no fixture is made in isolation from the rest of the world. Especially at this time of the year when there is so much going on such as concerts and other events like that."

For Galway manager Conor Hayes, the trip north to play Down is far from ideal. "No, I would have preferred something a little more local, and with a bit more championship bite. No disrespect to Down but this game won't have much championship hype either.

"And I suppose there were a few teams in the draw that we would have preferred to meet sooner rather than later.

"Assuming we do win, it means our second chance is gone, and that does create some drawbacks. I mean it might have suited us more to play say Tipperary and Kilkenny when we could afford to lose."

Galway haven't been involved in competitive hurling since the league final win over Waterford back on My 9th, and last year's championship opener against Clare - which they won by a point - did leave them in good shape for the meeting with Tipperary, even though they ultimately lost that by a point.

"We just don't know that much about Down either," added Hayes. "But at least it's the first round of the championship and the date is set now. We've done a fair bit of training and thankfully, have avoided any major injuries so we're just eager to get the thing started now. It's better than the last few weeks when we didn't know who, when or where we were playing."

What is certain, too, is that Galway's championship will heat up rapidly if they get past Down.

The four winners from round one are joined by the two defeated provincial finalists in Munster and Leinster, and those six teams play off in round two.

The three winners after that are joined by Ulster champions Antrim, and that creates the two All-Ireland quarter-finals. The winners there meet the two provincial winners in the All-Ireland semi-finals.

According to Leinster Council chairman Nicky Brennan, ideally one of the hurling matches would have been played next weekend.

In the meantime though, having Kilkenny in the qualifier series should make the whole thing a little more interesting.

"It was, of course, something of a surprise top see Kilkenny beaten," said Brennan. "And it makes for a very interesting Leinster final no matter who Wexford play now. And I expect Kilkenny will still cause of a lot of concerns to the teams in the qualifiers. They're wounded now and that's when they can be at their most dangerous."

SHC Qualifiers first round

Limerick v Tipperary

Down v Galway

Laois/Westmeath v Clare

Dublin/Offaly v Kilkenny

All games will take place on Saturday, June 26th