GAA confirm weekend fixtures with the Cork footballers heading to Thurles and the hurlers playing on Sunday
THE die-hard Cork GAA fans face a busy weekend of travel after the fixtures were confirmed for the qualifiers.
The footballers head to Thurles on Saturday, 5pm, to take on Laois with a place in the Super 8 round robin at stake. Ronan McCarthy's charges defeated the Premier at Semple Stadium in the Munster semi-final last season, though Cork were beaten by Tipp there in 2016 and a year before in a backdoor tie against Kildare.
The Rebels will be favourites against Laois, though the Leinster side were impressive in the league and have a shrewd Kerry man at the helm in John Sugrue.
The hurlers travel to Westmeath on Sunday for a shot at Kilkenny in the All-Ireland quarter-finals a week later. The home side were defeated in the McDonagh Cup final by Laois on Sunday.
Cork are without Aidan Walsh due to a hand injury with Shane Kingston or Conor Lehane ready to replace him.
Wing-back Robert Downey is in action for the U20s against Limerick on Wednesday at Páirc Uí Rinn, 7.30pm. If Cork win they'll be out a week later at the same venue against Clare in the provincial semi-final.
SUNDAY:
Westmeath v Cork, Mullingar, 3pm.
Laois v Dublin, Portlaoise, 4.15pm
FOOTBALL:
Cork v Laois, Semple Stadium, 5pm
Cavan v Tyrone, St Tiernach's Park, 5pm
Galway v Mayo, Gaelic Grounds, 7pm
Meath v Clare, O'Moore Park, 2pm.
This also clarifies the shape of the Super 8s, which kick off the following weekend.
Group 1: Kerry v Galway/Mayo, Fitzgerald Stadium; Donegal v Meath/Clare, MacCumhaill Park.
Group 2: Dublin v Cork/Laois, Croke Park; Roscommon v Cavan/Tyrone, Dr Hyde Park.
Group 1: Kerry v Donegal, Galway/Mayo v Meath/Clare, both Croke Park.
Group 2: Dublin v Roscommon, Cork/Laois v Cavan/Tyrone, both Croke Park.
Group 1: Meath/Clare v Kerry (Páirc Tailteann/Cusack Park), Galway/Mayo v Donegal (Pearse Stadium/Castlebar).
Group 2: Cork/Laois v Roscommon (Páirc Uí Chaoimh/Rinn/O’Moore Park), Cavan/Tyrone v Dublin (Breffni Park/Omagh).
The winners of the four qualifiers will go forward to the Super 8 quarter-finals.
Already in the draw for the quarters are Kerry, Donegal, Dublin and Roscommon.
