The draws for Round 1 of the All-Ireland Hurling Qualifiers and Round 2A of the All-Ireland Football Qualifiers have taken place this morning. The draw was made on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme and there were some high-profile counties involved including a couple with serious aspirations to be involved at the business end of the championship. Limerick, Cork and Clare were both hoping for favourable draws to help them move on from disappointing losses against Tipperary and Waterford, while the Dubs were seeking to move on from a heavy defeat against Kilkenny in Leinster and reclaim the form that saw then win Leinster three years ago.
Meanwhile in football, after good opening round wins against Louth and Armagh respectively, Derry and Laois would have been hoping to avoid potential clashes against the losers of the Cavan-Tyrone replay in particular-but would have been aware that a match-up with Meath, Sligo or Clare could be a potential banana skin for them in their desire to be playing football in late summer.
The results of the draw can be seen below (first named teams play at home):
All-Ireland Hurling Championship Qualifiers Round 1:
Wexford v Offaly
Westmeath v Limerick
Clare v Laois
Cork v Dublin
All-Ireland Football Championship Qualifiers Round 2A:
Sligo v Leitrim
Clare v Laois
Tyrone/Cavan v Carlow
Derry v Dublin/Meath
The stand-out fixture in the hurling is undoubtedly Cork v Dublin, with Dublin manager Ger Cunningham bringing his charges to play his native county in their own back yard in a game that both teams will fancy their chances of winning. In the football, the Clare footballers face a sterner test than their hurling counterparts in what could be a tasty clash with a (potentially) rejuvenated Laois side. Derry will be praying to the gods of gaelic football that Dublin don't somehow conspire to lose against Meath-there is no doubt who the Oak Leaf county would prefer to welcome to Celtic Park.
All eight games will take place on Saturday 2nd July.
