Westmeath hurlers and footballers to learn qualifier fate

 

By Kieran Galvin

Westmeath's hurlers will find out their opponents in the All-Ireland Qualifiers next Monday morning - and the county's followers will learn their fate on the following Monday.

The draw for the preliminary round and Phase 1 of the All-Ireland SHC Qualifiers will take place on RTE Radio 1 (during the 'Morning Ireland' programme) next Monday, June 10.

The teams involved are Westmeath, Antrim, London, Carlow, Waterford and the losers of the Offaly v Kilkenny and Wexford v Dublin games this weekend.

There will be three preliminary ties with one team getting a bye to Phase 1. Preliminary games (3) are due to be played on June 22. Phase 1 games (2): June 29.

The draw for the first round of the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers will take place on Monday, June 17 (also on 'Morning Ireland', RTE Radio 1). It will feature teams who did not reach their respective provincial championship semi-finals.

At the time of writing, the teams in the pot for Round 1 are Westmeath, Longford, Offaly, Laois, Carlow, Galway, Sligo, Tipperary, Limerick, Tyrone and Derry. They will be joined by the loser of this Sunday's game between Louth and Wexford in Drogheda.

Interestingly, the Leinster Council has confirmed that the Louth v Wexford fixture is now "sold out".  As Wexford are expected to bring a small number of fans, the vast majority of the attendance will be supporting the home side in the tight confines of the Drogheda venue.

The first round games in the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers are due to take place on Saturday, June 29.

Elsewhere, there are a couple of changes to this weekend's Westmeath club championship fixtures. The IFC clash between Rosemount and St Mary's Rochfortbridge this evening (Friday) has been switched from Moate to Kilbeggan, throw-in now 7:30pm. On Sunday, the JFC game between St Joseph's and Ballycomoyle has been  switched from Moate to Milltown, throw-in is now 2:30pm.