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.

It was an open draw, except that Dublin, Kildare, Laois and Meath were all seeded for the purposes of the quarter-finals. Star Laois centre-back Tom Kelly agreed that nearly all the top teams were on the same side of the draw. "It will be very difficult for us to retain the title," he commented.

Meanwhile, Ulster secretary Danny Murphy, a member of the touring party along with chairman John O'Reilly, described their draw as "absolutely splendid."

"That was the best draw, because the three teams that were our best teams this year can't meet short of the semi-finals. And Armagh and Tyrone can't meet short of the Ulster final. Armagh and Tyrone met in 2002 and they had a replay and they met in the All-Ireland final this year, so to keep them apart was good," he added.

In hurling, Clare and Tipperary avoided each other for the first time in six years, while holders Cork drew Kerry and will be expected to advance to a meeting with Limerick. Leinster chairman Nicky Brennan described their hurling draw as encouraging for the weaker teams.

"It good for the likes of Laois, Meath, Offaly and Dublin it's up to them now to make progress. They have been handed the best opportunity in years to come forward to a final."