Casement Park launch for hurling qualifiers
June 24, 2008
With the Leinster and Munster provincial hurling final pairings decided, the emphasis switches to the All-Ireland qualifiers next Saturday when Antrim host Galway in the first round.
Saturday also features the launch of the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cup competitions. The full line-up is as follows:
Saturday
GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship qualifier: Antrim v Galway, Casement Park, 3.30pm
Christy Ring Cup (Round 1) (Games at 3.30pm unless stated)
Group 2A: Westmeath v Roscommon, Cusack Park.
Group 2B: Carlow v London, Dr. Cullen Park (2pm)
Group 2C: Meath v Mayo, Pairc Tailteann.
Group 2D: Kildare v Derry, Newbridge.
Nicky Rackard Cup (Round 1) (Games at 3.30pm)
Group 3A: Louth v Fingal, Dundalk.
Group 3B: Non Ards v Leitrim, Newry.
Group 3C: Donegal v Tyrone, Letterkenny.
Group 3D: Sligo v Cavan, Markievicz Park
ANTRIM v GALWAY
Galway were easy winners in qualifier clashes with Antrim in 2007 and 2005, having gone 22 year since their previous meeting with the Ulster men. They met Antrim quite regularly in All-Ireland quarter-finals in the early 1980s.
Antrim go into action as Ulster champions while Galway will be having their first competitive outing since losing the National League final to Tipperary in April. The winners of next Saturday's tie will play Laois in the second round on Saturday week while the losers will play Waterford on the same day.
Last Five Championship Clashes
2007: Galway 2-31 Antrim 1-9 (All-Ireland qualifier)
2005: Galway 3-29 Antrim 0-10 (All-Ireland qualifier)
1983: Galway 3-22 Antrim 2-5 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
1982: Galway 6-19 Antrim 3-12 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
1981: Galway 6-23 Antrim 3-11 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
CHRISTY RING CUP
Twelve teams will compete in four groups of three, played off on a round robin basis, to clear the way for the knock-out stages. Westmeath, who won the title last year before going on to capture the Division Two NHL title in April are in Group 2A with 2007 Nicky Rackard Cup winners Roscommon and Wicklow. Westmeath host Roscommon in Cusack Park in the first round on Saturday.
Kildare, runners-up to Westmeath last year, start their campaign at home to Derry in 2D. Armagh, runners-up to Roscommon are the other team in the group. Carlow, London and Down are in group 2B while Meath, Mayo and Kerry make up 2C.
NICKY RACKARD CUP
Roscommon and Armagh, who contested the final last year, have moved on to the Christy Ring Cup. However, there are still 12 teams in the Nicky Rackard as Non Ards and Fingal will be competing for the first time. Louth and Donegal reached the semi-finals last year where they lost to Roscommon and Armagh respectively.
GAA HURLING ALL IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP SHORTS
* Kilkenny and Wexford will meet in the Leinster hurling final for the 4th successive season on July 6 and for the seventh time in eight seasons. Wexford will be seeking their first Leinster final win over Kilkenny since 1997.
*Clare and Tipperary will meet in the Munster hurling final for the first time since 1997. The clash on July 13 will be played in the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick.
*The draw for the All-Ireland hurling qualifiers (Round 3) will take place next Sunday live on TV3 at 6.0pm It will feature the beaten Leinster semi-finalists (Dublin and Offaly) against the beaten Munster semi-finalists (Cork and Limerick). The winners of those two games will play the two survivors from the first two rounds, involving Antrim, Galway, Waterford and Laois.
2008 GAA HURLING ALL IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES/RESULTS
ULSTER
May 11: First round: Monaghan 2-15 Cavan 1-16, Kingspan Breffni Park; Tyrone 1-11 Fermanagh 2-7, Lisnaskea.
May 17: Second round: Monaghan 1-15 Donegal 1-14, Clones.
May 18: Second round: London 2-13 Tyrone 1-6, Omagh.
May 24: Quarter-final: London 2-23 Armagh 4-16, Newry.
May 25: Quarter-final: Derry 7-23 Monaghan 3-13, Celtic Park.
June 1: Semi-finals: Antrim 2-17 Derry 1-12; Down 4-16 London 1-16, Casement Park.
June 15: Final: Antrim 3-18 Down 2-16 Casement Park.
LEINSTER
May 25: Quarter-finals: Offaly 4-22 Laois 2-12; Dublin 3-21 Westmeath 0-11, Portlaoise.
June 14: Semi-final: Dublin 0-19 Wexford 2-13, Nowlan Park.
June 15: Semi-final: Kilkenny 2-24 Offaly 0-12, Portlaoise.
June 22: Semi-final (replay): Wexford 2-15 Dublin 1-15, Croke Park
July 6: Final: Kilkenny v Wexford, Croke Park.
MUNSTER
June 1: Quarter-final: Clare 2-26 Waterford 0-23, Gaelic Grounds.
June 15: Semi-final: Tipperary 1-19 Cork 1-16 Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
June 22: Semi-final: Clare 4-12 Limerick 1-16, Thurles.
July 13: Final: Clare v Tipperary, Gaelic Grounds.
ALL-IRELAND QUALIFIERS
Next Saturday: Round 1: Antrim v Galway, Casement Park.
July 5: Round 2: Loser of Antrim/Galway v Waterford; Winner of Antrim/Galway v Laois.
July 12: Round 3: Beaten Leinster semi-finalists v Beaten Munster semi-finalists: Dublin and Offaly v Cork and Limerick (pairings to be decided by open draw)
July 19: Round 4: Round 2 winners v Round 3 winners (2 games)
ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIPS
July 27: Quarter-finals: Munster runners-up (Clare or Tipperary) v Round 4 Qualifier winner; Leinster runners-up (Kilkenny or Wexford) v Round 4 Qualifier winner.
August 10: Semi-final: Leinster champions v Quarter-final winner, Croke Park.
August 17: Semi-final: Munster champions v Quarter-final winner, Croke Park.
September 7: All-Ireland final, Croke Park.
CHRISTY RING CUP
Competing Counties: Westmeath, Roscommon, Wicklow, Carlow, London, Down,
Meath, Mayo, Kerry, Kildare, Derry, Armagh.
Next Saturday: Round 1: Group 2A: Westmeath v Roscommon; Group 2B; Carlow v London; Group 2C: Meath v Mayo; Group 2D: Kildare v Derry.
July 5: Round 2: Group 2A: Roscommon v Wicklow; Group 2B: London v Down; Group 2C: Mayo v Kerry; Group 2D: Derry v Armagh.
July 12: Round 3: Group 2A: Wicklow v Westmeath; Group 2B: Down v Carlow; Group 2C: Kerry v Meath; Group 2D: Armagh v Kildare.
July 19: Quarter-finals
July 26: Semi-finals
Aug 2/3/4: Final
NICKY RACKARD CUP
Competing Counties: Louth, Fingal, Longford, Non Ards, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Donegal, Tyrone, Monaghan, Sligo, Cavan, and Warwickshire.
June 28: Round 1: Group 3A: Louth v Fingal; Group 3B: Non Ards v Leitrim; Group 3C: Donegal v Tyrone; Group 3D: Sligo v Cavan.
July 5: Round 2: Group 3A: Fingal v Longford; Group 3B:Leitrim v Fermanagh; Group 3C: Tyrone v Monaghan; Group 3D: Cavan v Warwickshire.
July 12: Group 3A: Longford v Louth; Group 3B: Fermanagh v Non Ards; Group 3C: Monaghan v Donegal; Group 3D: Warwickshire v Sligo.
July 19: Quarter-finals.
July 26: Semi-finals
Aug 2/3/4: Final
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