Laois set to meet Oak Leaf

MONAGHAN’S reward for yesterday’s agonising Ulster final defeat to Tyrone is a clash with national league champions Donegal while beaten Leinster finalists, Laois will meet resurgent Derry in the third round of the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers.

Galway and Meath will meet for the first time since their All-Ireland final clash in 2001 while Louth have been drawn against Cork.

The latter games will probably go ahead next Saturday while the sides defeated in provincial finals yesterday (Laois and Monaghan) have another week to recover.

Cork selector John Corcoran dismissed suggestions that Billy Morgan’s side have been handed the easiest draw.

“At this stage every team will have designs on going further. I don’t understand why anyone could claim that this is an easy draw. That would be disrespectful to a Louth team that have had two good wins on the road. They travelled to Limerick and Newbridge and recorded hard victories.

“They have plenty of confidence, they are a team that have been preparing well so it would be foolhardy not to treat them with the utmost respect.”

The ties will be played at neutral venues over the course of the next two weekends and dates, times and venues will be confirmed following a CCC meeting today.

Meanwhile the draw for the semi-finals of the Guinness All-Ireland SHC was also made yesterday.

The winners of Kilkenny/Galway are set to play the victors of Wexford/Tipperary. Both of those quarter-finals look set to be played next weekend with venues and times to be announced today.

Tipperary GAA chiefs have no plans to seek a deferral of their quarter final, even though it will be their seventh Championship weekend in succession. The Premier County have been in action every weekend since June 10th but are happy to play Wexford.

The other semi will be an all-Munster affair featuring the winners of Waterford/Cork and of Limerick/Clare — both expected to go ahead on July 28/29th.

Meanwhile Cork GAA officials confirmed last night that all Cork senior hurling championship games involving inter-county players have been postponed.

The decision frees Cork manager Gerald McCarthy and his backroom team to concentrate on their All-Ireland SHC quarter-final on Sunday week against Waterford.

The games will be refixed at a later date.

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers (Round Three):

Monaghan v Donegal

Laois v Derry

Galway v Meath

Cork v Louth

Dates, times and venues to be announced today.