Cork, Kerry Croker double-bill

Cork and Kerry have been placed on the same fascinating All-Ireland SFC quarter-final bill in Croke Park next Sunday.

Should the counties win their respective games against Kildare and Donegal, there will be a repeat of their Munster semi-final in an All-Ireland semi-final on August 26.

Cork’s clash with Kildare throws in at 2pm, with Kerry’s last-eight bout with the Ulster champions given a 4pm start (Kerry’s minors face Roscommon at 12pm at GAA HQ).

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness is excited about the prospect of taking on last year’s All-Ireland runners-up in what will be the counties’ first championship meeting.

“It’s the type of draw players in the squad would’ve been looking forward to their whole careers,” he said. “Kerry in Croke Park in the championship is something that has never happened before and it’s something we can look forward to.

“It’s obviously a very tough game for us but it would’ve been the same if it was Kildare or Laois. We knew it was only one from three and it’s just a matter of trying to get to grips with it and get our plans in place and travel there with a bit of confidence.”

The Dublin-Laois game has a 7pm throw-in at Croke Park on Saturday, with Mayo and Down set for a 5pm start as the senior curtain-raiser. TV3 will show Kerry-Donegal and Cork-Kildare live on Sunday, RTE broadcasting the other two quarter-finals.