Kerry avoid Cork, Donegal face tall order in Ulster

All-Ireland champions Kerry will meet either Waterford or Tipperary in the semi-finals of the Munster football championship.

This evening’s draw saw Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s men avoid Cork in the semi-finals but they will, in all likelihood, face each other in another provincial decider next summer. The Rebels will take on either Limerick or Clare in their semi-final.

If Donegal are to retain their Ulster title, they will have to do it the hard way after they were handed a preliminary round meeting with Tyrone. The winners of that tie take on Armagh in the quarter-finals.

In Leinster, Offaly or Longford will be first up for defending champions Dublin with Jim Gavin’s side again the overwhelming favourites for provincial honours.

Mayo look set to meet Galway in the Connacht semi-finals but the Tribesmen will first have to negotiate a trip to New York and a possible quarter-final with Leitrim. The other semi-final sees Sligo taking on either Roscommon or London.

In the Munster hurling championship, Clare have been pitted against neighbours Limerick in the quarter-finals with winners of that tie taking on Tipperary. The second semi-final will see Jimmy Barry Murphy’s Cork up against Waterford.

In Leinster, new Dublin manager Ger Cunningham faces a baptism of fire after being handed the toughest possible draw against Galway in the quarter-finals.

The silver lining for Dublin and Galway is that they will avoid Kilkenny in the semi-finals, with the All-Ireland champions meeting the winners of the Wexford/Qualifier quarter-final.

2015 Draws

Munster Football Championship

Quarter-finals: Limerick v Clare, Waterford v Tipperary

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

Ulster Football Championship

Preliminary draw: Donegal v Tyrone,

Quarter-finals: Armagh v Donegal/Tyrone, Derry v Down, Cavan v Monaghan, Fermanagh v Antrim

Semi-finals: Armagh/Donegal/Tyrone v Derry/Down, Cavan/Monaghan v Fermanagh/Antrim

Leinster Football Championships

First round: Offaly v Longford, Laois v Carlow, Louth v Westmeath

Quarter-finals: Dublin v Offaly/Longford, Kildare v Laois/Carlow, Wexford v Louth/Westmeath, Wicklow v Meath

Semi-finals: Dublin/Offaly/Longford v Kildare/Laois/Carlow, Wexford/Louth/Westmeath v Wicklow/Meath

Connacht Football Championship

Preliminary round: New York v Galway

Quarter finals: New York/Galway v Leitrim, Roscommon v London

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

Munster Hurling Championship

Quarter-final: Clare v Limerick

Semi-finals: Cork v Waterford, Tipperary v Clare/Limerick

Leinster Hurling Championship

Quarter-finals: Galway v Dublin, Offaly v Qualifier, Wexford v Qualifier

Semi-finals: Kilkenny v Wexford/Qualifier, Galway/Dublin v Offaly/Qualifier