All-Ireland champions get Tipp opener

Reigning All-Ireland champions Kerry will begin the 2010 Championship season with a Munster quarter-final clash with Tipperary, while tonight's draws have also paired this year's finalists Antrim and Tyrone together in the Ulster Championship.

Thu, 22 Oct, 2009 - 22:17

If Kerry prevail against Tipperary, they will come face-to-face with Conor Counihan's Cork side whom they beat in last month's All-Ireland decider at Croke Park.

Cork won the Munster title this year, beating Kerry in a replayed semi-final, while Clare, Waterford and Limerick will battle it out for a final spot in the other side of the 2010 Munster draw.

Pat Gilroy's Dublin side will want to hit the ground running next summer after their humbling at the hands of Kerry in the 2009 Championship.

The Dubs, bidding for their sixth Leinster title in-a-row, will take on Wexford in a mouth-watering provincial quarter-final, with Meath, Offaly or Laois providing the semi-final opposition for the winners.

Mick O'Dwyer's Wicklow will fancy their chances of getting past Carlow in their Leinster Championship opener, although Thomas Walsh, who has transferred back to his native Fenagh, and Brendan Murphy, who has returned to Carlow from Australia, could have something to say about that.

Meath v Offaly and Louth v Longford are the other first round clashes in Leinster, with Kildare and Westmeath both getting byes into the quarter-finals.

The Ulster Championship could have fireworks right from the off as Derry and Armagh will meet in a heavyweight preliminary round tie. Monaghan await the victors at the quarter-final stage, while a repeat of last summer's final - Antrim v Tyrone - is arguably the pick of the last-eight dates.

Should Tyrone open their Anglo-Celt Cup defence with a win, they are scheduled to meet either Donegal or Derry in the semi-finals. Cavan or Fermanagh will fight it out with the winners of the Derry-Armagh-Monaghan conundrum in the other semi-final.

Defending champions Mayo could meet their old foes Galway at the semi-final stage in the Connacht Championship.

Led by new manager Joe Kernan, Galway will begin their Championship quest away in New York, and Roscommon are also on their travels to London. The third quarter-final has pitted Sligo against Mayo, while Leitrim are straight through to the last-four.

2010 GAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP DRAWS:

2010 MUNSTER SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP -

Quarter-Finals:

Clare v Waterford

Kerry v Tipperary

Semi-Finals:

Limerick v Clare/Waterford

Cork v Kerry/Tipperary

2010 CONNACHT SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP -

Preliminary Round:

A: New York v Galway

B: London v Roscommon