Rebels open title defence with Déise clash

MUNSTER senior football champions Cork will begin the 2009 defence of their crown in the Fraher Field, Dungarvan on May 24 with a quarter-final clash against Waterford.

That game along with the Tipperary-Limerick quarter-final, will kick- off proceedings after the Munster Council yesterday announced details of their 2009 senior fixture list.

The hurling championship begins a week later when defending champions Tipperary face Cork in Semple Stadium. The two counties are also slated to meet in that venue in the NHL in February, in the first official game under floodlights in Thurles.

The senior football semi-finals are down for decision on June 7 with beaten All-Ireland finalists Kerry hosting either Cork or Waterford in Fitzgerald Stadium. The other semi-final sees Clare face the winners of the Tipperary-Limerick tie in either Cusack Park or Semple Stadium.

The first senior hurling semi-final takes place on June 14 between Limerick and Waterford in Semple Stadium, with Clare playing the winners of the Cork-Tipperary clash seven days later in the second semi-final. The senior football final will be held on July 5, while the senior hurling final takes place on July 12.

Meanwhile Ulster GAA chiefs have opted to fix two SFC matches next year for Saturday nights, in order to ensure maximum television coverage for their provincial championship.

The quarter-final clash between Cavan and the winners of the opening round Fermanagh-Down game will take place on Saturday, June 6th at 7pm and the second semi-final is down for Saturday, June 27 at 7pm.

The Ulster Council have also organised their fixture list to ensure counties do not have games in both codes scheduled for the same day. The Ulster senior hurling final will be the only Ulster fixture scheduled for Sunday 28th June while Antrim’s involvement for the first time in the Leinster SHC was also taken into account, to ensure their involvement in the Ulster SHC would not be affected.

The U21 football championship will be run off under floodlights over a series of midweek games, starting with the meeting of Monaghan v Fermanagh in Emyvale on March 11.

MUNSTER SCHEDULE

SHC: Quarter-Final: 1. Cork v Tipperary, Semple Stadium, May 31.

Semi-Finals: 2. Limerick v Waterford, Semple Stadium, June 14; 3. Clare v 1, Gaelic Grounds/Semple Stadium, June 21.

Final: 4. 2 v 3, Venue TBC, July 12.

SFC: Quarter-Finals: 1. Tipperary v Limerick, Semple Stadium; 2. Cork v Waterford, Fraher Field, both May 24.

Semi-Finals: 3. Clare v 1, Cusack Park/Semple Stadium; 4. Kerry v 2, Fitzgerald Stadium, both June 7.

Final: 5. 3 v 4, Venue TBC, July 5.

ULSTER SCHEDULE

SFC: First Round: 1. Fermanagh v Down, Enniskillen, May 17.

Quarter-Finals: 2. Derry v Monaghan, Celtic Park/Neutral, May 24; 3. Tyrone v Armagh, Omagh/Neutral, May 31; 4. Cavan v 1, Kingspan Breffni Park/Newry, June 6; 5. Donegal v Antrim, Ballybofey, June 14.

Semi-Finals: 6. 2 v 3, Venue TBC, June 21; 7. 4 v 5, Venue TBC, June 27.

Final: 6 v 7, Venue TBC, July 19.

SHC: (All games at 3:30pm)

First Round: 1. Fermanagh v Cavan, Enniskillen; 2. Donegal v Tyrone, Letterkenny; 3. Armagh v Monaghan, Athletic Grounds, all May 9.

Second Round: 4. London v 1, Ruislip; 5. 2 v 3, Venue TBC, both May 17/24.

Quarter Finals: 6. Derry v 4, Casement Park; 7. Down v 5, Casement Park, both May 31.

Semi-Finals: 8. 6 v 7, Casement Park, June 14.

Final: Antrim v 8, Venue TBC, June 28.

U21FC First Round: 1. Monaghan v Fermanagh, Emyvale, March 11.

Quarter-Finals: 2. Armagh v Cavan, Athletic Grounds; 3. Donegal v Derry, Ballybofey; 4. Tyrone v Antrim, Omagh; 5. Down v 1, Newry/Enniskillen, all March 18.

Semi Finals: 6. 2 v 3, Venue TBC; 7. 4 v 5, Venue TBC, both April 1.

Final: 6 v 7, Venue TBC, April 15.

U21H Shield: Quarter Finals, May 30; Semi-Finals, June 6; Final, June 13. (Shield winners enter Ulster U21HC & All Ireland Under 21‘B’ HC)

U21HC Quarter Final: 1. Armagh v U21H Shield Winners, Venue TBC, July 15.

Semi-Finals: 2. Antrim v 1, Venue TBC; 3. Derry v Down, Casement Park, both July 22.

Final: 2 v 3, Venue TBC, July 29.

MFC: First Round: 1. Fermanagh v Down, Enniskillen, 1:45pm, May 17.

Quarter-Finals: 2. Derry v Monaghan, Celtic Park/Neutral, May 24; 3. Cavan v 1, Athletic Grounds/Clones, May 30; 4. Tyrone v Armagh, Omagh/Neutral, May 31; 5. Donegal v Antrim, Ballybofey, June 14.

Semi-Finals: 6. 2 v 4, Venue TBC, June 21; 7. 3 v 5, Venue TBC, June 27.

Final: 6 v 7, Venue TBC, July 19.

MHC: First Round: 1. Donegal v Armagh, Venue TBC; 2. Fermanagh v Monaghan, Venue TBC, both May 24.

Quarter Finals: 3. Derry v 1, Venue TBC; 4. Down v 2, Venue TBC, both May 31.

Semi Final: 5. 3 v 4, Venue TBC, June 14.

Final: 6. Antrim v 5, Venue TBC, June 28.