Kildare get extra week to recover

THE losers of Sunday's Bank of Ireland Munster football final replay in Pairc Uí Chaoimh will face Mayo in Ennis six days later (July 27) in the fourth round of the qualifier system.

As expected, Kildare have been given a break before their game with Kerry, which will be played the same evening (6.15pm) in Thurles.

The other two games, a first ever meeting of Tyrone and Sligo and the first clash of Donegal and Meath since 1990 (in the All Ireland semi-final), will form a double bill in Croke Park next Sunday.

The two quarter-final games in the Guinness All Ireland hurling championship will also be paired together in Croke Park on July 28. Tipperary and Antrim will be in action first, at 2.15, with a 4 o’clock throw in for the Clare/Galway game.

Their most recent clash was also at the quarter-final stages, in 1999, after Clare lost to Cork in the Munster final. They staged a remarkable comeback to force a draw and won easily enough the second day before going under in the semi-final to Kilkenny.

Tipperary and Antrim met for the only time in the championship in 1989, when Bobby Ryan was captain and Nicky English contributed 2-11 to an easy win.

Meanwhile, Kerry manager Paidí O´ Sé is upbeat about his team’s prospects of beating Kildare, making the point that they have improved considerably since losing to Cork in the Munster semi-final replay: “Obviously, Kildare are a very experienced side, but I feel Kerry have a regained a lot of their old form. After the recent games against Fermanagh and Wicklow we have improved, even though the opposition was not great in either of them.

“We know the task we face against Kildare will be very different, but I certainly feel we will be able for them.’’

Bank of Ireland football championship qualifier, Round Four:

Next Sunday - At Croke Park: Sligo v Tyrone, 2.40; Donegal v Meath, 4.30pm.

Saturday July 27 - At Thurles: Kildare v Kerry, 6.15pm; At Ennis: Mayo v Cork or Tipperary, 6.15pm.

Guinness All Ireland hurling championship quarter finals:

Sunday July 28 - At Croke Park: Tipperary v Antrim, 2.15pm; Clare v Galway, 4 pm.