Dublin first to renew hostilities with Armagh

GAELIC GAMES: The  fixtures and dates for next year's National Leagues were announced yesterday.

The National Football League opens on February 2nd, with re-runs of the summer's All-Ireland semi-finals in Division 1A.

Champions Armagh face Dublin, presumably in Parnell Park, whereas Munster champions Cork entertain Kerry in the counties' fourth competitive meeting in eight months. The top opening fixture in Division One B is the all-Connacht clash of Mayo and Sligo.

The National Hurling League has a new format, with the top three teams in each section of Division One carrying their points total into a three-match series against each other, with the top two counties in this second-phase group contesting the League final in May.

Phase One gets under way on February 23rd, with the stand-out fixture pitting All-Ireland champions and League holders Kilkenny against neighbours and Munster champions Waterford in Division 1A.

There are re-runs of two All-Ireland preliminary matches from last summer in Division 1B. Offaly travel to Tipperary whereas Limerick go to Cork. In June, Cork scraped through against the same opponents in Thurles and some weeks later Tipperary comfortably reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals after a big win over Offaly in Portlaoise.

All four of the counties have lost their managers since then and only Limerick have appointed a successor, Dave Keane. Cork, Tipperary and Offaly are expected to appoint within the next few weeks.

Full fixture lists below