Kildare and Offaly clash the sole televised qualifier

ALL eight qualifier games in the first round of the Bank of Ireland football championship will be played next Saturday, with the Kildare/Offaly tie in Newbridge — seen as the main attraction — timed for 2.30.

It will also be the only game to be covered live on television. The other seven rounds will start at 4.30pm.

In Mick O'Dwyer's last year with Kildare, they were taken to two games by Offaly in the Leinster semi-final before emerging victorious by a point in the replay. Subsequently, they went under by two points to Dublin in the final.

Meanwhile, Dublin will have home advantage for their game with London.

Under the rules of the competition, designated counties (those which have not been successful and don't have Division One League status, automatically receive a home game.

However, London are not a designated county. A special arrangement applies in their case, whereby they have to travel over to Ireland for qualifier games on the basis of enjoying home advantage in their opening (Connacht) championship game.

Clare are at home for their game with Sligo as are Tipperary, who will play Fermanagh in Semple Stadium.

Carlow's game with Down will be decided in Dr Cullen Park, where Carlow put up a brave fight against Laois in the second round of the Leinster championship.

Monaghan will play Longford in Clones.

The venues were decided at a meeting of the Games Administration Committee in Croke Park yesterday.

The committee took two interesting decisions in regard to the fixtures involving Louth and Antrim and Wicklow and Derry. The chosen venues are Drogheda and Aughrim, respectively both of which grounds have capacities of less than 10,000.

However, the GAC pointed out yesterday that neither game will be all- ticket, on the basis that the anticipated attendances will be well below the designated capacity.

*Westmeath midfielder Rory O'Connell, who was sent off in the opening championship game against Offaly on May 23, appeared before the GAC yesterday after he sought a personal hearing.

He was accompanied by manager Páidí Ó Sé and County Board chairman Seamus Ó Faoláin.

The outcome of the hearing won't be known until today, after the player has been officially informed.

Limerick have thrown their hat into the ring to host the Munster senior hurling final between Cork and Waterford on June 27.

Traditionally, Thurles has been the favoured venue for championship matches between the two counties but Limerick believe that their new state of the art stadium, with capacity of almost 50,000, might carry weight when it comes to decision time.

The Munster Council are to meet this week to decide on the venue.

Waterford played their League final against Galway at the Ennis Road grounds and though beaten on the day, were fulsome in their praise for the facilities.

A Limerick Board official said: "We acknowledge Thurles is probably more suitable from a travelling point of view for the Waterford supporters. Likewise, they are aware that Cork have an excellent record in Thurles and manager Justin McCarthy might be anxious for a change of scenery. We do not know Cork's intentions."

The Rebels beat Limerick in the semi-final of the championship at the Gaelic Grounds.

Mike O'Brien is an unlikely starter for Limerick in Sunday's Munster football semi-final against Waterford. The Glenroe player has a hand injury. There are also question marks about the fitness of midfielder Jason Stokes.

Waterford, who had Kildare's Mick O'Dwyer down for a training session last week, will be buoyed up for this game, following the success of their hurlers. It would be unique for them to figure in two senior provincial finals in the same season.