McCarthy heads back to Waterford, Tyrone face Armagh

Justin McCarthy will lead Limerick out against his old side Waterford in the semi-final of the Munster hurling championship next…

Justin McCarthy will lead Limerick out against his old side Waterford in the semi-final of the Munster hurling championship next year, while Dublin are set to meet Meath in the Leinster football quarter-final and All-Ireland champions Tyrone are to face Ulster title holders Armagh.

McCarthy left Waterford in June and his shock replacement Davy Fitzgerald led the side to an All-Ireland final against Kilkenny.

The other semi-finalist drawn this evening was Clare, who will face the winner of an intriquing quarter-final between Cork and Tipperary.

Galway's first outing in the Leinster hurling championship sees them open with a game against Laois.

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Dublin will host the other newcomers Antrim, while Wexford, who are currently without a manager after the departure of John Meyler, take on Offaly.

The winners of the three ties will join All-Ireland and Leinster champions Kilkenny in an open semi-final draw.

The Dublin and Meath footballers will be straight into the thick of it with a quarter-final meeting in the Leinster championship.

The tie was the only one to be drawn straight out of the hat, with Westmeath awaiting the winner of Longford or Wicklow in Dublin's end of the draw and Laois planning for either Carlow or Louth.

This year's beaten All-Ireland semi-finalists Wexford will play either Kildare or Offaly.

A Cork versus Kerry Munster football final is not on the cards for 2009 after the two landed on the same side of the draw.

The Kingdom will be happier after getting a bye into the semi-final, where they await the winner of the Rebels' meeting with Waterford.

On the other side of the draw Tipperary and Limerick will battle out to secure a semi-final meeting with Clare.

Ulster fans will be licking their lips in anticipation of a quarter-final clash between Mickey Harte's Tyrone side and their arch-rivals Armagh.

In the same side of the draw, either Fermanagh or Down will face Cavan, while, in the bottom half, Derry take on Monaghan for the right to face either Donegal or Antrim in the semi-final.

In the Connacht football championship Sligo were drawn as the only automatic semi-finalists and are likely to face Galway who meet London in the quarters.

Roscommon meet Leitrim in their opening game and the winner will face either New York or Mayo, who contest the other pre-determined quarter-final.

2009 Provincial championship draws

Munster Hurling Championship

Quarter-final
Cork v Tipperary

Semi-finals
Waterford v Limerick
Clare v Cork / Tipperary

Leinster Hurling Championship

Quarter-finals
Laois v Galway
Offaly v Wexford
Dublin v Antrim

Kilkenny straight into open semi-final draw

Connacht Football Championship

Quarter-finals
New York v Mayo
London v Galway
Roscommon v Leitrim

Semi-finals
London / Galway v Sligo
New York / Mayo v Roscommon / Leitrim

Leinster Football Championship

First round
Kildare v Offaly
Carlow v Louth
Longford v Wicklow

Quarter-finals
Kildare / Offaly v Wexford
Carlow / Louth v Laois

Longford / Wicklow v Westmeath
Meath v Dublin

Munster Football Championship

Quarter-finals
Tipperary v Limerick
Waterford v Cork

Semi-finals
Tipperary / Limerick v Clare
Waterford / Cork v Kerry

Ulster Football Championship

First Round
Fermanagh v Down

Quarter-final
Fermanagh / Down v Cavan
Tyrone v Armagh

Derry v Monaghan
Donegal v Antrim