Then there were three

Kerry to face Clare, Roscommon or Derry in SFC quarter-final

KERRY’S path to possible All-Ireland glory has become a lot clearer after the weekend with their All-Ireland quarter-final opponents narrowed down to three. Kerry will meet one of Roscommon, Clare or Derry on Sunday, July 31 in Croke Park.

Clare will take on Roscommon in Salthill this Saturday afternoon (throwin 2pm), while Tipperary will play Derry later that afternoon (throw-in 5pm) in Breffni Park.

Should Roscommon see off Clare in the first of this weekend’s qualifier games then the Kingdom are guaranteed to meet them as Roscommon cannot face Galway in the quarter-finals having already played them in the Connacht final.

A victory for Clare would mean they could potentially face the Kingdom for the second time this season having already been defeated by the green and gold in the Munster championship semi-final in Fitzgerald Stadium.

If Tipperary were to win the second of the day’s qualifier games that scenario would come into play as they cannot face Kerry to whom they lost the Munster final earlier this month.

A Derry win – following a Clare win – would mean Kerry would play Derry in the quarter-final as repeat pairings are to be avoided where possible.

On the other side of the draw Cork and Donegal will face off, as will Mayo and Westmeath. Those games will be played on the Saturday afternoon before the first batch of quarter-finals the following day.

There was positive news for Kerry fans too this week with the announcement that the Kingdom’s All Ireland Minor football championship quarter-final game will be played in Croke Park as a curtain-raiser to the quarter-finals on Sunday, July 31.

The minors will play their game with Derry – who were defeated by Donegal in the Ulster final just last Sunday by two points, 2-10 to 1-11 in Clones – at noon. It’s not yet known whether or not the seniors’ quarter-final fixture will be played in the 2pm or the 4pm slot.

Given Kerry’s marquee status they could expect to be handed the 4pm slot, but with the minors playing at 12 it would seem to make more sense to play both Kerry games back-to-back. Should Derry advance to face Kerry in the senior the logic for such a move would seem self evident.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Mary O’Rourke Lady Captain Killarney Golf Club (third from left) presenting first prize in her Lady Captain’s Junior competition to Corrina Griffin (girls) and Niall McCarthy (boys) with Angela O’Connor Juvenile Officer (centre row from left)...