Kerry to begin title defence against Banner of Deise

All-Ireland champions Kerry will face either Waterford or Clare in their opening game of the 2008 Munster Senior Football Championship. The championship draws for each province took place this evening at Croke Park with All-Ireland finalists Kerry and Cork both seeded in the semi-finals of the Munster tournament.

Meanwhile, Cork will face either Limerick or Tipperary at the penultimate stage. The draw assumed the traditional format by seeding both Kerry and Cork in separate semi-finals.

Kieran McGeeney's Kildare will face neighbours Wicklow in the opening round of the Leinster championship with the winners to face Mick O'Dwyer's old charges Laois in the quarter-finals. Local derbies are the order of the day in the opening round with neighbours Longford facing Westmeath and the winners of that tie taking on Offaly.

Meanwhile, reigning Leinster champions Dublin will face Louth in the fourth of the quarter-finals. Paul Caffrey's side could once again meet Laois in the provincial decider.

Defending Connacht champions Sligo will contest a preliminary round tie with London to open their 2008 provincial campaign, with the winners travelling to Mayo. 2007 runners-up Galway face an opening round tie against Roscommon, with the winners tussling with either New York or Leitrim.

In Ulster, Seamus McEnaney's Monaghan begin their quest for provincial glory with a game against the currently managerless Fermanagh.

A repeat of this year's Ulster final pairing is again possible in 2008 with champions Tyrone and Monaghan on opposite sides of the draw. Mickey Harte's Tyrone, going for back-to-back titles, will beging with a quarter-final tie against Down.

MUNSTER SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

Quarter-Finals

Limerick v Tipperary

Waterford v Clare

Semi-Finals

Waterford/Clare v Kerry

Limerick/Tipperary v Cork

LEINSTER SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

First Round

Kildare v Wicklow

Meath v Carlow

Longford v Westmeath

Quarter-Finals

Kildare/Wicklow v Laois

Meath/Carlow v Wexford

Longford/Westmeath v Offaly

Louth v Dublin

Semi-Finals

Kildare/Wicklow/Laois v Meath/Carlow/Wexford

Longford/Westmeath/Offaly v Louth/Dublin

CONNACHT SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

Preliminary Round

New York v Leitrim

London v Sligo

Galway v Roscommon

Semi-Finals

Mayo v London/Sligo

Galway/Roscommon v New York/Leitrim

ULSTER SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

Preliminary Round

Antrim v Cavan

Quarter-Finals

Fermanagh v Monaghan

Donegal v Derry

Tyrone v Down

Armagh v Antrim/Cavan

Semi-Finals

Fermanagh/Monaghan v Donegal/Derry

Tyrone/Down v Armagh/Antrim/Cavan