Galway next up for Kilkenny

As if championship hurling hasn't been hot enough this summer it's about to go a few degrees higher. Last night's draw for the next round of the All-Ireland Qualifier series sends All-Ireland champions Kilkenny out against one of the main contenders Galway - and this time there is no way back.

That gets marginally higher billing than the all-Munster clash of Tipperary and Cork. Beaten so narrowly by Waterford in yesterday's Munster final, Cork won't have much time to lick their wounds. Tipperary are on the rise again after sneaking past Limerick on Saturday.

Completing the draw was the matching of Clare and the losers of next Sunday's Leinster final, featuring Kilkenny's conquerors Wexford against Offaly. Like Tipperary and Kilkenny, Clare put their provincial disappointment behind them with a convincing win over Laois on Saturday.

With Galway also beating Down on Saturday, the second round becomes defunct - and these three ties thus become round three.

All games are due to be played on the weekend of July 10-11th, with confirmation of times and venues expected later today.

The three winners that emerge will be joined by Ulster champions Antrim in the two All-Ireland quarter-finals, set for July 25th.

The draw for round two of the football qualifiers failed to produce such exciting promotions. Last out of the drum were Dublin, and manager Tommy Lyons won't be particularly worried about the meeting with beaten Connacht semi-finalists Leitrim, who didn't look so hot against Roscommon in Saturday's replay.

All-Ireland champions Tyrone will look to get their title defence back on course with a win over Ulster rivals Down, while Galway, who fell so flat in the second half of their semi-final against Mayo at McHale Park yesterday, will be taking on Louth.

Meath have drawn Fermanagh for the second year running and will be looking to reverse the result of last summer, while Cavan against Derry, Wexford against Offaly, and Cork against Clare all keep the provincial boundaries intact. Waterford against Longford completes the pairings.

Again the times and venues for all eight ties will be announced later today by the GAA's Games Administration Committee.

All games are scheduled to go ahead next Saturday and Sunday, again with the assurance that no more second chances will be handed out.