CHAMPIONSHIP DRAWS:LAST NIGHT'S draws for the GAA's 2012 championships saw former Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald on course to face his former charges in next year's Munster hurling semi-final. So Fitzgerald, expected to be ratified as manager of Clare, will have familiar opponents in his first championship outing in charge of his native county.

It’s history repeating itself for Waterford, who two years ago found themselves drawn against another former manager Justin McCarthy, who took charge of Limerick for the 2009 season and who had departed Waterford in acrimonious circumstances after a whopping defeat by Clare in the 2008 first round.

On the other side of the draw, champions Tipperary again find themselves on the same side of the draw as Cork, under the management of Jimmy Barry-Murphy – although for the first time in five seasons, not in their first fixture. Instead Limerick, expected to be managed by another former Cork All-Ireland winning manager John Allen, will provide the first round opposition.

Both All-Ireland champions Dublin and Kilkenny are on course to renew final rivalries in next year’s provincial semi-finals. Football champions Dublin are on the same side of the draw as Wexford, who threatened a major breakthrough in last July’s provincial football final, whereas hurling champions Kilkenny lie in wait on the same side of the draw as the Dublin hurlers, who beat them in this year’s league final, a defeat emphatically avenged last July.

It will be the first time in 16 years both the Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy holders will start their championship defence in Leinster.

To reach the semi-finals Dublin’s footballers must overcome the winners of Westmeath v Louth, whereas Wexford are due to face either Longford or Laois, who also met in last May’s championship – a match Longford were slightly unlucky to lose.

The other side of the draw contains 2010 champions Meath and Kildare, who went down to Dublin during the summer after the controversial conclusion to the counties’ Leinster semi-final.

Kieran McGeeney’s team face Offaly in the quarter-finals, whereas Meath have to play Wicklow – in their first championship encounter of the post-Mick O’Dwyer era – and if they win that, Carlow, who this season reached a first provincial semi-final in more than 50 years.

In their fourth season in the Leinster championship Galway will be favourites to negotiate the challenges of Westmeath, Antrim, Offaly and Wexford although, like the latter two, the Westerners have yet to appoint a manager after the stepping down of John McIntyre.

Galway footballers, now under the baton of this year’s All-Ireland winning under-21 manager Alan Mulholland, have drawn 2010 provincial champions Roscommon in the Connacht quarter-final.

Roscommon are getting ready to find a successor to Fergal O’Donnell, who stepped down after three years in charge earlier this week.

Champions Mayo are on the less congested side of the draw and await the winners of London v Leitrim, awakening nervous memories of this year’s championship when they required extra-time to survive their trip to Ruislip.

In Munster, All-Ireland finalists Kerry have been drawn against Tipperary for the third successive year, a prospect that will tax the feel-good factor in the county of the newly crowned All-Ireland minor champions.

Cork are on the same side of the draw, which presents a periodic opportunity to three of the less traditionally successful counties to make the final. On the last four occasions that has happened, Limerick have availed of the opportunity and have this time been drawn against Waterford with the prize of a semi-final against Clare.

In Ulster, Donegal are going to have to come the long way around if they are to retain their title, as they are again drawn in the preliminary round, this time against Cavan. Should Jim McGuinness’s team progress, a re-run of last July’s provincial final against Derry awaits.

On the same side of the draw, Tyrone or Armagh will provide semi-final opposition. Down, All-Ireland finalists last year, are on the easier side with Fermanagh, Monaghan and Antrim barring their way from reaching a first provincial final since 2003.

AS part of Saturday’s 125 CIE Transport Gaels celebrations at Croke Park a media selection will face a team from the Oireachtas, with proceeds from the attendance going to Special Olympics Ireland and Alzeimers Ireland.

Former Kerry footballer and multiple All-Ireland winner Minister Jimmy Deenihan will head up a Dáil team. Throw in is at 4.30.