Ideal incentive for Cork to press home advantage

SHOULD All-Ireland hurling champions Cork beat provincial champions Waterford and reach the Munster final against either Limerick or Tipperary, they will have home advantage.

This was decided at a Munster Council meeting in Limerick where dates and venues for the 2005 Championships were finalised.

Waterford were the only team to defeat the Leesiders in this year’s championship and, with Justin McCarthy still on board, will be keen to maintain their dominance.

Limerick and Tipperary first clash in Thurles in round one.

Páirc Uí Chaoimh loses out to the Gaelic Grounds for the semi-final clash of Clare and Tipperary should it materialise, while Killarney is in line for the final should Clare and Waterford make it through.

In football, All-Ireland championships Kerry have been handed a difficult route to retaining their provincial crown. They play Tipperary in round one at the Gaelic Grounds and, if successful, face Limerick in the semi-final at the same venue.

Should they make to the Munster final against Cork, that game will be played in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. A Kerry v Waterford or Clare final is fixed for Killarney.

SENIOR HURLING: May 15: First round: Limerick v Tipperary, Thurles

May 22: Semi-final: Cork v Waterford, Thurles.

June 5: Semi-final: If Clare v Limerick, Thurles. If Clare v Tipperary, Limerick.

June 26: Final: If Clare v Cork, to be arranged; If Clare v Waterford, TBA; If Cork v Limerick, Pairc Uí Chaoimh; If Cork v Tipperary, Pairc Uí Chaoimh; If Limerick v Waterford, TBA; If Tipperary v Waterford, TBA.

All-Ireland Series: June 18: Tier 1, round 1.

July 2: Tier 1, round 2.

July 9: Tier 1, round 3.

All-Ireland quarter-finals (2): July 31.

All-Ireland quarter-finals (2): August 14.

All-Ireland semi-final: August 21.

All-Ireland semi-final: August 28.

All-Ireland final: September 11.

SENIOR FOOTBALL: May 29: First Round: Kerry v Tipperary, Limerick (unless home and away agreed).

Clare v Waterford, Ennis.

June 12: Semi-final If Waterford v Cork, Dungarvan; If Clare v Cork, Ennis.

June 19: Semi-final: If Limerick v Kerry, Limerick; If Limerick v Tipperary, Cork (unless home and away agreed).

July 10: Final:

All-Ireland Qualifiers:

June 18, first round

July 2, second round.

July 16, third round.

July 30, fourth round, involving Munster and Connacht runners-up.

August 6, fourth round, involving Leinster and Ulster runners-up.

All-Ireland SFC: August 7: Quarter-final, Munster v Connacht.

August 13: Quarter-final: Leinster v Ulster.

August 28: Semi-final: Munster v Connacht.

September 4: Semi-final: Leinster v Ulster.

September 25: Final.

JFC: May 29: 1st round: Kerry v Tipperary, Limerick; Clare v Waterford, Ennis.

June 12: Semi-final: If Waterford v Cork, Dungarvan, If Clare v Cork, Ennis.

June 19: Semi-final: If Kerry v Limerick, Limerick.

If Tipperary v Limerick, Cork (unless home and away agreement reached).

June 30: Final.

Erin U-21 HC: June 8, First round: Limerick v Kerry, Limerick (unless home and away agreed); Waterford v Cork, Waterford (unless home and away agreed).

July 17: Semi-finals: If Kerry v Tipperary, Thurles (unless home and away agreed);

If Limerick v Tipperary, Thurles (unless home and away agreed). If Clare v Cork, Limerick; If Clare v Waterford, Thurles.

August 1 or 3: Final.

August 27 or 28: All-Ireland semi-finals.

September 18: All-Ireland final.