GAA:Defending All-Ireland and National Football League champions Cork have been handed the toughest of assignments after being pitted against their bitter Munster rivals Kerry on the opening weekend of next season's league.
Conor Counihan’s side will make the short journey across the border in possession of the Sam Maguire trophy for the first time in two decades and Kerry, still smarting after losing their All-Ireland crown, would like nothing better than to take them down a peg or two.
This season’s league clash between the counties was a fractious affair, with Paul Galvin and Eoin Cadogan both seeing red igniting a feud that carried on into the championship itself.
The Division One evening meetings of Armagh/Dublin and Mayo/Down will get the league campaign underway on the Saturday, February 5th while Monaghan also face Galway on the Sunday.
In hurling, this year’s winners Galway will host Galway at the start of February but the main draw on the opening weekend will see All-Ireland finalists Tipperary and Kilkenny face off once more under the lights at Semple Stadium. Elsewhere in the top flight, Cork meet Offaly while Dublin travel to Waterford.
National Football League
Saturday, February 5th
Division 1:Armagh v Dublin; Mayo v Down
Division 2:Laois v Meath; Donegal v Sligo.
Sunday, February 6th
Division 1:Kerry v Cork; Monaghan v Galway; Mayo v Down .
Division 2:Antrim v Kildare; Derry v Tyrone.
Division 3:Offaly v Cavan; Wexford v Waterford; Louth v Westmeath; Tipperary v Limerick.
Division 4:London v Kilkenny; Leitrim v Clare; LongfoRound v Roscommon; Carlow v Wicklow; Fermanagh bye.
National Hurling League
Saturday, February 12th
Division 1:Tipperary v Kilkenny
Sunday, February 13th
Division 1:Galway v Wexford, Cork v Offaly, Waterford V Dublin
Division 2:Westmeath v Laois, Down v Carlow, Kerry v Antrim, Clare v Limerick
Division 3A:Wicklow v Kildare, Derry v Armagh, London v Meath
Division 3B:Fingal v Monaghan, Louth v Sligo, Mayo v Roscommon, Donegal Bye
Division 4:Longford v South Down, Cavan v Fermanagh, Tyrone v Leitrim
For full fixture lists, see irishtimes.com/sports/gaa