Tipperary will play Kilkenny in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final, provided they complete the expected victory over Antrim in the quarter-finals at Croke Park next Sunday week.
By Ian O'Riordan
In the other semi-final, Waterford will play the winners of the Clare and Galway quarter-final.
After landing the softer option in Sunday night's draw, Tipperary have effectively set themselves up with a semi-final date. Since repeat meetings of provincial finals are avoided in the All-Ireland semi-final, Tipperary will thus avoid a rematch with Munster champions Waterford and instead play the Leinster champions.
The GAA's Games Administration Committee yesterday confirmed the venues for the two quarter-finals, which, as expected, will be played as a double-bill in Croke Park on Sunday week, July 28th. Tipperary will play Ulster champions Antrim at 2.15, followed by the meeting of Clare and Galway at 4.0.
For the semi-finals, Waterford will be up first and play either Clare or Galway on August 11th, followed a week later on August 18th by the meeting of Kilkenny and Tipperary (again barring a major upset). The All-Ireland final is set for September 8th.
Clare and Galway are set to clash for the first time since 1999 when they also met in the quarter-finals. (On that occasion, Clare won after a replay).
Should, however, Antrim, produce a major shock against Tipperary then the semi-finals will be an open draw (though the provincial champions are kept apart).
Interestingly, both hurling quarter-final games have revealed a novel link.
Current Antrim manager Dinny Cahill is a native of Tipperary, and previously coached the county's minor team. And former Clare trainer Mike McNamara is now carrying out a similar role with Galway.
On the football front, Kerry will return to Thurles for their All-Ireland qualifier fourth-round game against Kildare, which has been set for Saturday week, July 27th.
Though Kerry are no strangers to Semple Stadium, for Kildare it will be a whole new championship setting.
Tyrone against Sligo will be the opening game on the Croke Park double-bill, with the throw-in at 2.40, to be followed by the meeting of Donegal and Meath at 4.30.
Tyrone were particularly eager to play in Croke Park having missed out last year despite winning the Ulster title, and they'll be playing Sligo for the first time in championship history.
Meath have already experienced the new Croke Park playing surface and surroundings against Dublin in the Leinster semi-final and meet Donegal, who fell to Armagh in the Ulster final, for the first time since 1990.
Though Mayo must await the losers of the Tipperary-Cork replay, which will take place at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this Sunday, they know they'll be headed for Ennis on Saturday week. Like the Kerry-Kildare game, there is a 6.15 throw-in time.
The four winners that emerge will meet the four provincial champions - Galway, Dublin and Armagh, and either Tipperary or Cork - in the All-Ireland quarter-finals, which are scheduled to be played on the Bank Holiday weekend of Sunday, August 4th.
Unlike last year, no previous provincial meetings will be allowed in the draw up to the quarter-final stage, thus avoiding any possible rematches of Meath-Dublin, Donegal-Armagh, Galway-Sligo and Kerry-Cork.
The only possible interference to those fixtures at this stage will arise if Tipperary and Cork fail to get a result in this Sunday's replay, even after extra time.
"In that case we'll simply put that quarter-final game back a week," explained GAC chairman Pauric Duffy. "It is unlikely to happen, but there is a three-week spell before the semi-finals if more time is needed."
It was also announced that the curtain-raiser for the Kerry-Kildare qualifier in Thurles will be the All-Ireland senior B hurling championship final between Laois and Wicklow (4.15).
The All-Ireland minor hurling quarter-final between Galway and Cork will open the double bill of hurling at Croke Park on Sunday week, starting at 12.45.
Limerick are unlikely to make an immediate decision on a successor to Eamonn Cregan, whose term as senior hurling manager ended after their defeat by Cork in the qualifiers.
The likelihood is that the board will search for suitable candidates and put their recommendation to delegates at a future meeting.
While it has been suggested that Limerick may for the first time look outside the county for a manager, the word is that they will appoint from within. Under-21 manager Dave Keane is thought to be in contention after guiding the under-21s to a third successive provincial final.
OFFALY (Under-21H v Dublin): S O'Connor; D Moran, K Brady, B Teehan; P McIntyre, J Brady, B O'Meara; S Brown, D Tanner; R Hanniffy, P Teehan, M Cordial; B Carroll, K Kelly, D Murray.
