Tipperary await losers of replay between Kilkenny and Galway

All-Ireland champions Clare will host Wexford in Ennis

Galway’s Joe Canning celebrates scoring a late penalty in the Hurling Senior Championship semi-final between Kilkenny vs Galway. The sides will have to meet again with the winner’s drawn to face Tipperary. Photograph: INPHO
Galway’s Joe Canning celebrates scoring a late penalty in the Hurling Senior Championship semi-final between Kilkenny vs Galway. The sides will have to meet again with the winner’s drawn to face Tipperary. Photograph: INPHO

This year's All-Ireland hurling qualifiers draw has thrown up a riveting fixture with Tipperary to take on the losers of next Saturday's Leinster semi-final replay between Kilkenny and Galway.

That replay has been fixed for 7.0pm in O’Connor Park, Tullamore. This means that it will not be televised, as Sky Sports is broadcasting the Ulster football semi-final between Armagh and Monaghan, which throws in at the same time.

Sky will show the round one qualifier the following Saturday when Tipperary will host the game at Semple Stadium in Thurles, with throw scheduled for 7.0pm.

Last year Tipp and Kilkenny had a memorable qualifier meeting in Nowlan Park, which was won by Kilkenny.

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The round one hurling qualifiers get underway this Saturday when Waterford host Laois at Walsh Park (7.0pm), while Antrim and Offaly will face each other in Ballycastle on Sunday at 2.0pm.

The final game sees All-Ireland champions Clare play Wexford in Ennis on Saturday week at 3.30pm, a game that will be televised live by RTÉ.

In last year’s All-Ireland qualifiers phase three Clare beat Wexford in Thurles but were taken to extra time.

This year’s draw was under a new format, placing the teams that fail to reach the provincial finals in Munster and Leinster on separate sides.

As there is an imbalance between the provinces in the number of counties, the initial draw was to place either Laois or Antrim in with the Munster counties.

As a result the two sides of the draw were: Leinster – Laois, Offaly, Wexford and Kilkenny/Galway and Munster – Waterford, Tipperary, Clare and Antrim.

All-Ireland SH qualifiers draw round one (first side drawn at home):

Waterford v Laois, Walsh Park, Saturday June 28th, 7.0pm

Antrim v Offaly, Ballycastle, Sunday June 28th, 2.0pm

Clare v Wexford, Cusack Park, Ennis, Saturday July 5th, 3.30pm

Tipperary v Kilkenny/Galway, Semple Stadium, Saturday July 5th, 7.0pm

WEEKEND FIXTURES

SATURDAY

Ulster SFC semi-final

Armagh v Monaghan, 7.0pm

All-Ireland Football Qualifiers Round 1B

Carlow v Waterford, Dr Cullen Park, 2.0pm

Tipperary v Louth, Healy Park, Omagh, 2.30pm

Cavan v Westmeath, Breffni Park, 3.0pm

Leinster SHC semi-final replay

Galway v Kilkenny, O’Connor Park, Tullamore, 7.0pm

All-Ireland Hurling Qualifier Round 1

Waterford v Laois, Walsh Park, 7.0pm

SUNDAY

Leinster SFC semi-finals (at Croke Park)

Kildare v Meath, 2.0pm

Dublin v Wexford, 4.0pm

All-Ireland Football Qualifier Round 1B

Down v Leitrim, Páirc Esler, Newry, 2.0pm

Ulster SHC quarter-final

Down v Derry, Clones, 3.45pm

All-Ireland Hurling Qualifier Round 1

Antrim v Offaly, Ballycastle, 2.0pm

Seán Moran

Seán Moran

Seán Moran is GAA Correspondent of The Irish Times