Championship 2013

Its only a matter of days since it was confirmed that Kilkenny are All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions for 2012, but already the draws for the 2013 championships in both senior hurling and football have been made.

Earlier this year we saw Davy Fitzgerald take on a Waterford side that he managed for three and a half years while manager of his native Clare. People say history does not repeat itself, but we all know better, and as sure as night follows day, the two sides were paired together again in 2013.

Clare will be fancied to play a major roll in Munster in 2013 as more and more of their recent successful Minor and Under 21 teams over the past three or four years begin to make more and more of an impact with the seniors.

We know from his time in Waterford that Davy will not be afraid to throw them in action, as he has the mentality that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. Which ever side comes through will have another tough battle as Cork await the winners in the semi finals while Tipperary and Limerick clash for the second year running.

In Leinster, a very complicated system was used to pair the ten competing sides.

Antrim and Westmeath were paired together in a preliminary game and the winners will play Laois in the first round proper while Carlow will take on London.

In the quarter finals, those that come through from the first round games will meet each other. All-Ireland Champions Kilkenny are paired with Offaly and Wexford will play Dublin.

Leinster Champions will play one from Antrim, Westmeath, Laois, Carlow or London in one of the semi finals while the winners of the Offaly and Kilkenny game will play the winner of the Wexford and Dublin game.

In football, the Munster Council have got their way as the big two have been kept apart until a potential provincial final.

Cork have been paired with Limerick in the quarter finals with the winners playing Clare in the semi finals and for the third year in a row, Kerry and Tipperary clash at the quarter final stages with current managerless Waterford awaiting the winners.

In Connacht, New York will play Leitrim in one of the preliminary games, Sligo play London in another and in the third preliminary game there is another clash between Galway and Mayo.

In the semi finals, Galway or Mayo will play Roscommon while the winners of New York and Leitrim take on the winners of Sligo and London.

Up North, Cavan and Armagh have been paired together in the preliminary round and the winners will play Armagh in the quarter finals. The other quarter finals see Antrim take on Monaghan, Derry play down and All-Ireland champions take on Tyrone.

The semi finals see Fermanagh, Cavan or Armagh take on Antrim or Monaghan and in the second semi final the winners of Derry and Down will play Donegal or Tyrone.

In Leinster, Wicklow will play Longford, Laois will play Louth and Westmeath will play Carlow in the preliminary round of games.

The quarter finals see Wicklow or Longford take on Meath, Laois or Louth play Wexford, Westmeath or Carlow will play Dublin and Offaly will play Kildare.

In the semi finals the winners of the Wicklow, Longford and Meath game take on the winners of the Laois, Louth and Wexford game, while Westmeath, Carlow or Dublin will play either Offaly or Kildare.