Semple stadium to host hurling quarter-finals

Semple Stadium in Thurles has been chosen as the venue for next weekend's GAA All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-finals, following a meeting of the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) at Croke Park today.

The mouth-watering south east pairing of Wexford and Waterford will be the first of Sunday's quarter-finals at 2pm, and that game will be followed by the all-Munster clash of Cork and Clare (throw-in 4pm).

The decision to fix the games for Thurles came after it emerged that Croke Park would be unavailable at the weekend due to treatment works on the pitch, which were immediately begun following yesterday's Leinster SFC final between Dublin and Wexford.

Both hurling quarter-finals will be televised live on RTÉ 2.

They will form part of a triple header of action that includes the All-Ireland minor hurling quarter-final between Wexford and Galway (throw-in 12.15pm).

The Ulster SFC final replay forms the centrepiece of action in the big ball code, with this highly-anticipated fixture between Armagh and Fermanagh fixed for 3pm on Sunday.

The Ernesiders and Orchard men will return to the scene of yesterday's drawn game, St. Tiernach's Park in Clones.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the Ulster final replay has not yet been granted live TV coverage.

The majority of the football action is on Saturday, with Tyrone hosting Westmeath in the first of the day's live TV games.

This All-Ireland round two SFC Qualifier is set for a 3pm start and will be shown on TV3.

That game is followed by the meeting of Donegal and Monaghan at Ballybofey (throw-in 5pm), which will have live coverage on RTE 2.

There are 7pm throw-ins for Limerick v Kildare at the Gaelic Grounds and Laois v Down at O'Moore Park in Portlaoise.

Portlaoise will also play host to the All-Ireland junior football final, with Dublin facing Roscommon at 5pm.

Meanwhile, there is a 3pm start for reigning champions Wicklow in the Tommy Murphy Cup, as they host Leitrim, while Antrim face London in Casement Park for a 7pm encounter in the second semi-final.

In the Christy Ring Cup, Carlow have a long journey west to take on Mayo at 3pm, while Westmeath continue the defence of their title, when they welcome Derry to Cusack Park.

It is one of three games down for decision in Mullingar on Saturday, with Tipperary also taking on Antrim in the All-Ireland minor hurling quarter-final at 3.15pm.

That encounter is proceeded by the Christy Ring Cup relegation play-off between Roscommon and Meath at 1.45pm, while Armagh face London in a relegation showdown at Parnell Park (3pm).

Meanwhile, in the Nicky Rackard Cup, there are 3pm starts for both semi-finals, with Sligo playing host to Dublin side Fingal and Monaghan entertaining Louth at Rooskey.

All games will have extra-time if necessary, while referees have yet to be appointed for another busy weekend of GAA inter-county fixtures.