08:50, 16 Jul 2012
Heavyweights Kerry and Tyrone, with eight All-Ireland SFC titles between them since 2000, have been paired together in this morning's draw for the All-Ireland third round qualifiers.
GAA Director General Páraic Duffy and former Dublin midfielder Ciaran Whelan drew out the teams live on RTÉ Radio 1's 'Morning Ireland' programme.
Kerry, who survived a scare against Westmeath yesterday, will have home advantage against the Red Hands in what is a repeat of the 2008 All-Ireland final.
Tyrone won that game at Croke Park four years ago - 1-15 to 0-14 - and will relish the prospect of claiming back-to-back away victories after beating Roscommon at Dr. Hyde Park on Saturday.
Kildare, impressive winners over Cavan yesterday, will be back on home soil for their third round clash with Limerick. The game could mark Seanie Johnston's full debut for the Lilywhites after he made a point-scoring appearance as a substitute against his native Cavan.
The Shannonsiders outlasted Longford in extra-time to reach the third round and will be hoping to put it up to this much-fancied Kildare side, who operated two divisions above them in this year's Allianz League.
Leitrim's reward for flooring Wicklow is a home tie against Laois, the 2-16 to 0-16 conquerors of Monaghan. Meanwhile, Tipperary will host Antrim in the other qualifier after claiming back-to-back Championship wins in the same season for the first time since 2003.
Brian Fox turned in a man-of-the-match display as Tipp overcame Wexford 1-13 to 0-15 on Saturday. Their third round visitors, Antrim, also upset the odds to beat Galway by the same margin in Belfast.
The third round matches will be played next weekend with the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee due to confirm the dates, venues and throw-in times later today.
The fourth round qualifier pairings have also been set in place. The winners of the glamour tie between Kerry and Tyrone will fancy their chances of defeating beaten Munster finalists Clare.
Sligo, who lost the Connacht decider to Mayo, await the winners of the Kildare-Limerick encounter, while the prize on offer for Tipperary and Antrim is a meeting with the Ulster runners-up - either Donegal or Down.
Finally, the losers of next Sunday's Leinster final between Dublin and Meath will have an opportunity to bounce back against either Leitrim or Laois - although the fact that there is just a week between those games could hinder them.
GAA ALL-IRELAND SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP -
THIRD ROUND QUALIFIERS:
Kildare v Limerick
Tipperary v Antrim
Kerry v Tyrone
Leitrim v Laois
- All matches to be played next weekend
FOURTH ROUND QUALIFIERS:
Winners of Kildare/Limerick v Sligo
Winners of Tipperary/Antrim v Losers of Donegal/Down
Winners of Kerry/Tyrone v Clare
Winners of Leitrim/Laois v Losers of Dublin/Meath
- All matches to be played over weekend of Saturday, July 28-Sunday, July 29