Rebels to open new season with Waterford Crystal clash

CORK GAA chiefs will hope for a resolution to the latest hurling dispute to have rocked the county before January 11. That’s the date the Rebels are set to play their opening game of the 2009 season with a Waterford Crystal quarter-final against the winners of Kerry and Waterford IT.

The draws for both the Waterford Crystal and McGrath Cup senior competitions were made at the meeting of the Central Competitions Control Committee of the Munster Council on Thursday night.

Waterford Crystal SH

Round 1 (Weekend January 4): A: Kerry v Waterford IT; B: Clare v Tralee IT; C: Waterford v UCC; D: Limerick v UL.

Quarter-finals (Weekend January 11): E: Cork v Winners of A (Kerry or Waterford IT); F: Limerick IT v Winners of B (Clare or Tralee IT); G: Tipperary v Winners of C (Waterford or UCC); H: Cork IT v Winners of D (Limerick or UL).

Semi-finals (Weekend January 18): Winners of E v Winners of F; Winners of G v Winners of H.

Final: (Weekend January 25).

McGrath Cup SF

Preliminary Round (Weekend, January 4): A: Limerick v UL; B: Waterford v Tralee IT.

Quarter-finals (Weekend, January 11): C: Tipperary v UCC; D: Clare v Cork IT; E: Waterford IT v Winners of A (Limerick or UL); F: Limerick IT v Winners of B (Waterford or Tralee IT).

Semi-finals (Weekend, January 18): Winners of C v Winners of D; Winners of E v Winners of F.

Final: (Weekend, January 25).