2006 provincial championships taking shape

Almost all of the dates and venues for next year's provincial championships in both football and hurling have been confirmed this week by the relevant councils.

2006 BANK OF IRELAND ALL-IRELAND SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP:

CONNACHT SFC:

Quarter-Finals -

May 14 - New York v Roscommon, Gaelic Park, New York

May 21 - Galway v Sligo, Pearse Stadium, Salthill

May 28 - Mayo v London, Ruislip, London

Semi-Finals -

June 18 - New York/Roscommon v Galway/Sligo, Dr Hyde Park

June 25 - Leitrim v Mayo/London, Carrick-on-Shannon

Final -

July 16 - venue TBC

LEINSTER SFC:

First Round -

May 14 - Westmeath v Offaly, Croke Park

May 14 - Meath v Louth, Croke Park

May 21 - Wicklow v Carlow, Wexford Park

Quarter-Finals -

May 28 - (A) - Kildare v Westmeath/Offaly, Croke Park

May 28 - (B) - Wexford v Meath/Louth, Croke Park

June 4 - © - Laois v Wicklow/Carlow, O'Moore Park, Portlaoise/Dr Cullen Park June 4 - (D) - Dublin v Longford, Pearse Park

Semi-Finals -

June 18 - A v B, Croke Park

June 25 - C v D, Croke Park

Final -

July 16 - Croke Park

MUNSTER SFC:

Quarter-Finals -

May 21 - Kerry v Waterford, Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney

TBC - Limerick v Clare, venue TBC

Semi-Finals -

June 11 - Tipperary v Kerry/Waterford, Killarney/venue TBC

June 11 - Cork v Limerick/Clare, Pairc Ui Chaoimh/Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

Final -

July 9 - venue TBC

ULSTER SFC:

Preliminary Round -

May 7 - Down v Cavan, Newry/neutral venue

Quarter-Finals -

May 14 - (A) - Armagh v Monaghan, Clones

May 21 - (B) - Fermanagh v Antrim, Enniskillen

May 28 - © - Tyrone v Derry, Omagh

June 4 - (D) - Donegal v Down/Cavan, Ballybofey/Breffni Park

Semi-Finals -

June 11 - A v B, venue TBC

June 18 - C v D, venue TBC

Final -

July 9 - venue TBC

2006 GUINNESS ALL-IRELAND SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP:

*Galway, Connacht's only representatives, begin their SHC in the All-Ireland qualifiers

LEINSTER SHC:

Quarter-Finals -

May 21 - Offaly v Laois, O'Moore Park, Portlaoise

May 21 - Dublin v Westmeath, O'Moore Park, Portlaoise

Semi-Finals -

June 10 - Kilkenny v Dublin/Westmeath, Mullingar/Parnell Park

June 11 - Wexford v Offaly/Laois, Nowlan Park

Final -

July 2 - Croke Park

MUNSTER SHC:

Quarter-Final -

May 14 - Limerick v Tipperary, Semple Stadium, Thurles

Semi-Finals -

May 28 - Clare v Cork, venue TBC

June 4 - Waterford v Limerick/Tipperary, Semple Stadium, Thurles/venue TBC

Final -

Date TBC - venue TBC

ULSTER SHC:

Quarter-Final -

May 14 - Antrim v London, Ruislip, London

Semi-Finals:

May 21 - Derry v New York, Gaelic Park, New York

May 21 - Down v Antrim/London, Casement Park

Final -

June 4 - venue TBC.