THE remarkable series of draws in the early clashes of the All Ireland Football Championship continued yesterday at Clones where Down and Tyrone produced a 2-9 to 0-15 scoreline to ensure they must meet again.

A row is already brewing over the venue for next Sunday's replay, with initial indications from the Ulster Council that the match will be played in Omagh, upsetting officials from Down.

The rationale is that the drawn match was technically a home draw for Down but not played in Newry because the capacity was deemed to be inadequate. The Ulster Council will make a decision on the replay tonight.

Elsewhere, last week's stalemates in Leinster and Munster were resolved over the weekend with comfortable victories for Westmeath over Wexford on Saturday evening, and a 1-17 to 2-8 defeat of Limerick for Tipperary yesterday afternoon.

Yesterday was also the first day of the hurling championship and Dublin started soundly, putting 5-15 past Westmeath. In the other Leinster championship match, Offaly eased their way into the first round when they beat Meath by 21 points.

In Munster, Clare were even more comfortable victors over Kerry, winning 3-24 to 1-6.