Cork footballers and hurlers double-header unlikely

Páirc Uí Chaoimh could host Cork v Meath in the All-Ireland SFC on May 23, a day before the Rebel hurlers play Clare in the Munster SHC

The Cork footballers will face Meath in round 1 of the All-Ireland SFC. It will be the third time the sides have met this year. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Cork’s All-Ireland SFC Round 1 meeting with Meath is unlikely to form part of a double-header with the hurlers’ Munster SHC final round game against Clare on Sunday, May 24.

Ticket allocations for the hurling game between the 2024 All-Ireland pairing are expected to prevent the football game being played on the same bill with the hurling game scheduled for a 4pm throw-in.

Páirc Uí Chaoimh could host the fixture on Saturday, May 23, the same day it is anticipated Kerry’s Round 1 clash with Donegal will take place in Fitzgerald Stadium.

The clash between last year’s All-Ireland finalists, who also met in this season’s Division 1 decider, is set to be televised by RTÉ, who have first choice of game and a 4pm slot booked for the Saturday.

Galway have Roscommon on their minds in this Sunday’s Connacht SFC final but they will then turn their attention to Kildare in Salthill on May 23/24. Their game could be scheduled for May 23 as the Galway and Kildare hurlers conclude their respective Leinster SHC campaigns the following day.

That same weekend, Roscommon will have a second home game in three weekends when Tyrone visit them in the opening round of the Sam Maguire Cup.

In the latter half of Round 1 on May 30/31, Leinster SFC semi-finalists Dublin and Louth will clash again after the Blues completed a comprehensive win over Gavin Devlin’s side in Portlaoise on Saturday.

As they look to win their first Ulster SFC title in 18 years against Monaghan in Clones on Sunday week, Armagh will face further Ulster opposition in the All-Ireland opening stage as Derry come to Box-It Athletic Grounds in the last weekend of the month.

Following their defeat to Roscommon, Mayo will look to get back on track when they visit St Tiernach’s Park to take on Monaghan, while Westmeath and Cavan lock horns in Mullingar that same weekend.

The eight Round 1A winners will progress to Round 2A where the four victors will qualify for the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals. The eight losers will meet in Round 2B where defeat will mean elimination.

The Round 2B winners advance to Round 3, which is the equivalent of four All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-finals. Home advantage will be awarded to the teams drawn first in Round 2A, 2B and 3.