Tipp to face Limerick as Rebels await the outcome

FOR the first time since 2007, Cork and Tipperary have not been drawn against one another in the Munster SH championship.

However, last night’s draw in Croke Park saw the counties picked out on the same side of the 2012 draw, with the winners of Tipperary and Limerick facing Jimmy Barry Murphy’s men in the semi-final.

After facing Cork in the first round stage for the last three years, Munster champions Tipperary will again have to take the longest way to claim the provincial crown.

As per their home-and-away agreement, Limerick, set to be taken over by former Cork manager John Allen next week, are expected to travel to Thurles for the Munster opener at the end of May following the last provincial game between the counties — the 2007 semi-final second replay — being played at the Gaelic Grounds.

On the other side of the draw, Clare manager-elect Davy Fitzgerald is set to face his former charges Waterford in what is sure to be an intriguing semi-final.

Fitzgerald, who brought the Déise to three consecutive Munster finals — winning the 2010 decider replay against Cork — in his three full seasons as manager, is expected to be appointed Ger O’Loughlin’s successor early next week.

All-Ireland champions Kilkenny’s bye into the Leinster semi-finals will see them take on either Dublin, Laois or Carlow with each of Galway, Offaly and Wexford possibly breathing a sigh of relief that they were picked out on the opposing side of the draw.

Similar to their hurlers, Tipperary’s footballers can also be forgiven for cursing their luck after being drawn in the quarter-final stages for the fifth successive season.

Worse still, they face reigning champions and Evans’ native Kerry for the third year running. The winners of that opener face Cork, thus preventing a repeat of this year’s final between the provinces’ top two.

After reaching the All-Ireland quarter-finals this year, Maurice Horan’s Limerick will be buoyed by their draw although they must beat Waterford and Clare to get back to where they were in 2009.

Less than three weeks after their first All-Ireland title in 16 years, Dublin were given an indication of how the defence of their Leinster crown will begin.

Whether it will have any impact on Pat Gilroy’s decision to stay is unlikely but the draw was favourable to them with either Westmeath or Louth facing them in a quarter-final, likely on the June Bank Holiday.

The winners of that game have the prospect of taking on this year’s runners-up Wexford, Longford or Laois.

If the form book remains the same, Meath and Kildare are lined up to face each other for a second year running.

Seamus McEnaney’s men make their championship bows earlier when they take on Wicklow with Carlow awaiting the victors while Kildare have a last-eight meeting with Offaly to look forward to.

In Ulster, All-Ireland semi-finalists and reigning champions Donegal must do it the hard way once more if they are to retain the Anglo-Celt Cup.

In what is by far the stronger side of the draw, Jim McGuinness’ men have Cavan to worry about in the preliminary round, the team they beat in this year’s provincial quarter-final.

Providing they overcome that test, Donegal will renew acquaintances with Derry who they beat in this year’s final.

But the trouble doesn’t end there. With Armagh and Tyrone set to lock horns in the corresponding quarter-final, the path to the final has been made incredibly difficult for Donegal.

Even at this early stage, Down and Monaghan will be expected to progress from their quarter-finals on the other side of the draw where they face Fermanagh and Antrim respectively.

In the Connacht SFC, Mayo may consider they got the best draw of the last four provincial champions but they face the longest wait.

James Horan’s men are likely to be the last team in action next summer at the end of June when they play London or Leitrim for a place in the final.

Assuming they win that semi-final, Mayo won’t see head nor tail of Galway, Roscommon or Sligo until July.

As was pre-determined by the rota, Sligo will begin the All-Ireland championship with a trip to New York while Galway and Roscommon have been randomly chosen to face off.

Dates for the games will be confirmed by the respective provincial councils following consultation with television partners RTÉ and TV3.