Tyrone and Dublin to clash in quarter-finals

Tonight's draw for the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals has thrown up four juicy pairings, with the meeting of Ulster champions Tyrone and Dublin arguably the tie of the round.

Pat Gilroy's Dubs have accounted for Tipperary, Armagh and Louth in the qualifiers, restoring their confidence after losing their Leinster title to Meath.

Tyrone, meanwhile, got their hands on the Anglo-Celt Cup last Sunday and will be hoping for a repeat of their 2008 quarter-final demolition of Dublin (3-14 to 1-8) when the sides clash next weekend.

The televised draw was performed by GAA President Christy Cooney and former Dublin footballer Coman Goggins, with the four provincial champions in bowl 1 and the fourth round qualifier winners in bowl 2.

Meath were drawn out first and will face Leinster rivals Kildare in the last-eight of the Championship, the Lilywhites having ended Monaghan's hopes at Croke Park yesterday.

Reigning All-Ireland champions Kerry will face a stiff test from Down, who put Sligo to the sword in their qualifier tie in Cavan last night.

The fourth quarter-final pairing is Roscommon v Cork. The Rossies, buoyant after their surprise Connacht win, will have nothing to lose against a Cork side that struggled to see off Limerick after extra-time.

The way the quarter-final draw has worked out, it should be noted that the very same semi-final match-ups from last year could be repeated - Meath v Kerry and Tyrone v Cork. That would be the case if the four provincial winners pull through next weekend.

The last-eight encounters are set to take place at Croke Park over the August Bank Holiday weekend - July 31-August 2 - with the times, dates and venues to be finalised at a meeting of the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee tomorrow.

ALL-IRELAND SFC QUARTER-FINALS:

Meath v Kildare

Kerry v Down

Tyrone v Dublin

Roscommon v Cork