Draws produce exciting pairings

A KILKENNY/WEXFORD pairing in the Leinster hurling semi-final, a break in the sequence of Clare/Tipperary meetings in Munster and, in football, the involvement of Tyrone in the preliminary round in Ulster, were some of the highlights of the draws for the 2004 championships made in Australia last night.

The buzz it created prompted GAA director-general Liam Mulvihill to suggest they should give serious consideration to taking future draws out of Dublin.

The draws produced some interesting pairings, not least a Clare/Kerry quarter-final in the Munster SFC, with Cork playing the winners. Leinster champions Laois will oppose either Carlow or Longford and Westmeath will be faced by Offaly.