Sport

Cork to face Limerick in tie of round

The first All-Ireland hurling qualifier draw has produced just one compelling fixture

By Sean Moran
Mon Jun 10 2002 - 01:00

The first All-Ireland hurling qualifier draw has produced just one compelling fixture. Munster rivals Limerick and Cork have been paired in an echo of their thrilling championship clash of 12 months ago when Limerick won by a point at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The only definite aspects of the arrangements for this match is that it won't be played for a fortnight.

Although the balance of the round will be fixed for next Saturday, neither Cork nor Limerick will be asked to play as both counties' football teams are in action next weekend - in, respectively, the Munster semi-final against Kerry and the football qualifier replay with Cavan.

As dual players are involved with both counties, the Games Administration Committee will be flexible in their arrangements. Cork and Limerick had very disappointing championship defeats in recent weeks, but victory for whoever comes through can be a springboard back into the championship.

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Other fixtures don't have the same allure. Clare will play Dublin, probably at a neutral venue, after the latter's Leinster semi-final defeat yesterday in a match that ended in a monsoon. They have not played each other in the championship before.

More familiar are Offaly and Meath. Offaly lost to Kilkenny yesterday, but will be expected to account for Meath, managed by former Offaly All-Ireland medallist Michael Duignan. The teams met in this year's National League relegation play-offs and Offaly had to battle hard for their win. Since then Meath have enjoyed a memorable championship win over Laois, but were comfortably beaten by Dublin in the Leinster quarter-finals.

The final match pairs Galway and Down, yesterday's defeated Ulster finalists. This will probably be played at Casement Park and is another novel championship fixture. It will probably not make Galway too happy as, given their entitlement to a second match if defeated in this round, they had been hoping for strong opponents.

Instead they will be expected to beat Down and so effectively lose their second chance.

ALL-IRELAND QUALIFIERS: Clare v Dublin, Limerick v Cork, Galway v Down, Offaly v Meath.