All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Fourth round: With each championship comes a county that repeatedly upsets the odds. This season that count is Longford, but whatever luck they have had appears to have run out as they must make the intimidating journey south to Killarney on Saturday week to face Kerry in the fourth round of the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Kerry were awarded home advantage yesterday by the GAC after a toss of a coin determined each venue. The fixture takes place in Fitzgerald Stadium at 5pm on July 29th.

Longford provided arguably the shock of the championship so far by overcoming Derry thanks to a late point from Paul Barden last Saturday. It lent credence to the earlier performance against Dublin, when they received little credit for running Paul Caffrey's team to two points.

Their manager Luke Dempsey yesterday expressed disappointment with the current system.

"It's tough from the point of view that all championship matches of this importance should be at neutral venues.

"I suppose we have benefited from it this summer as we have only travelled to Waterford and that had its own benefits. But when teams are over, say, 50 miles apart it should be at neutral venues.

"Sure, just look at Clare having to go to Antrim already this summer.

"Victory becomes more realistic if we had the game in Longford. It seems right now to be daunting and unfair as travelling such a distance requires huge levels of organisation.

"On the positive side, we are thrilled to be still involved and people are already organising transport for the game."

Coincidentally, Kerry and Longford have both played Waterford and Tipperary during the current championship.

"I was actually talking to Jack O'Connor for research purposes before both those games," added Dempsey.

It has also been confirmed that the winners of this unique fixture play Ulster champions Armagh in the All-Ireland quarter-final, in what is now widely expected to be a rerun of the 2002 final.

Munster champions Cork face either Donegal or Fermanagh in their quarter-final. The Ulster rivals renew acquaintances in Enniskillen on July 30th.

With Munster and Ulster paired together this season, whoever progresses here will meet in the All-Ireland semi-final.

The other side of the draw sees Galway host Westmeath on July 29th in Pearse Stadium, the winners to meet Dublin, while Laois entertain neighbours Offaly the following day in Portlaoise.

As both teams have already played Dublin in the Leinster championship, the winners face Connacht champions Mayo but can still set up a possible revenge clash with Dublin by reaching the All-Ireland semi-final.

Offaly manager Kevin Kilmurray must lift team morale after defeat to Dublin, a task Mick O'Dwyer's Laois have already achieved in recent weeks. The Faithful County have, however, a decent record in their recent visits to O'Moore Park.

"At this point in time every opponent will be tough," said Kilmurray. "Laois are still one of the favourites for the All-Ireland but this is what we are in it for."

All-Ireland minor football championship quarter-finals: July 29th - Donegal v Offaly, Clones, 2pm; Meath v Antrim, Clones, 3.30pm; Roscommon v Tipperary, Tullamore, 3.30pm. July 30th - Kerry v Mayo, Ennis, 2pm.

All-Ireland junior football final: Kerry v Roscommon, Ennis, 3.30pm.