LEINSTER HURLING champions Kilkenny and Munster winners Tipperary are patiently awaiting the winners of this Sunday’s quarter-finals in Thurles but who plays who?
A statement of clarification yesterday read as follows: “Subject to the respective provincial champions not meeting the defeated finalists from their own province at this stage and, where feasible, the avoidance of repeat pairings, a draw shall be made to determine the pairings.”
Actually, there will no draw with four possible semi-final pairings.
If Dublin and Waterford progress the former face Tipperary with Waterford against Kilkenny in a reprise of last season’s All-Ireland final.
If Galway beat Davy Fitzgerald’s Waterford they will meet Kilkenny for a second time in the championship with Dublin still facing Tipperary.
If Limerick and Waterford progress, Limerick play Tipperary with Waterford again stuck with Kilkenny.
If Limerick and Galway make it through, Galway will avoid Kilkenny with a repeat of the 2007 final in the other semi-final.
Regardless, the Kilkenny fixture will take place at Croke Park on August 9th with Tipperary’s semi-final seven days later at the same venue.
Anthony Daly shall announce the Dublin hurling team tonight with regular centre-back Ronan Fallon not expected to start despite his return to training three weeks ago. Fallon sustained a broken metatarsal bone in his foot last April but should see some game time at Semple Stadium.
Ross O’Carroll has been passed fit and could make his first championship start but Oisín Gough is out with a broken thumb sustained against Kilkenny in last week’s under-21 Leinster final. Liam Rushe, who picked up an ankle injury at training recently, is expected to make a full recovery.
Limerick manager Justin McCarthy is able to avoid reopening the dual-player debate as Stephen Lucey and Mark O’Riordan are available with the football quarter-final postponed for a week due to the rescheduled round-three tie between Roscommon and Meath.
Both Waterford and Galway will announce teams tomorrow night with Fitzgerald’s main concern being corner-back Noel Connors. Jack Kennedy walked off the panel last week supposedly in reaction to Dan Shanahan replacing him after 27 minutes of the Munster final defeat to Tipperary. Waterford must already do without Ken McGrath and Gary Hurney.
Galway have lost a second defender in as many matches as full-back Shane Kavanagh (hand) joins Adrian Cullinane (knee) on the long-term injury list.
The All-Ireland football championship quarter-final draw takes place this Sunday evening at approximately 6.15pm (live on RTÉ 2 following the hurling quarter-finals in Thurles).
Potential All-Ireland hurling semi-finals: Kilkenny v Waterford and Tipperary v Dublin, Kilkenny v Galway and Tipperary v Dublin, Kilkenny v Waterford and Tipperary v Limerick, Kilkenny v Limerick and Tipperary v Galway.
