GAA:Formalities for the start of the 2010 GAA Football Championship took place at Kerry club side Kerins O'Rahillys today where details of the provincial preliminary round matches were confirmed.
The GAA announced the details in the county of the All-Ireland champions for the first time after the Tralee venue was selected.
O’Rahillys club man Micheál Quirke represented the defending champions while the four provincial winners from 2009 were represented by Trevor Mortimer (Mayo), Alan Brogan (Dublin), Stephen O’Neill (Tyrone) and Michael Shields from last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists (Cork).
GAA president Christy Cooney wished all players present well for the 2010 season. “Last weekend’s Galway versus New York Connacht Championship clash kick-started what should be another exciting summer of championship and it won’t be long before all four Provinces are fully immersed in their respective Provincial championships,” said Cooney.
“Not for the first time in recent seasons Kerry will start on top of the pile defending a title they are more familiar with than anyone else and with that in mind it is fitting that we are here in the Kingdom with players who will compete in all four provincial championships.”
2010 SFC All-Ireland Fixtures
Connacht Preliminary Round
30/05/10: London v Roscommon, 3:30pm, Ruislip
Leinster Preliminary Round
16/05/10: Wicklow v Carlow, 3:30pm, Portlaoise
Munster Quarter-Final
16/05/10: Kerry v Tipperary, 4:00pm, Semple Stadium
Ulster Preliminary Round
16/05/10: Derry v Armagh, 2:00pm, Celtic Park