THE GAA are seriously considering a Cork triple-header in Croke Park on August 10th.
A decision will be made by the Central Competitions Control Committee on Sunday evening next, but the Cork hurlers' All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny and the minor semi-final could be scheduled alongside the footballers' quarter-final against a yet- to-be-decided qualifier in an effort to maximise interest and turn-out at the 82,300 capacity venue. The Cork footballers can play any qualifier team, besides Kerry, in the last eight.
The hurlers' dramatic second-half turnaround at Semple Stadium in Thurles on Sunday has provoked widespread acclaim for Gerald McCarthy's supposedly ageing team, putting them firmly back into contention to reclaim the All-Ireland title for the first time since 2005.
"It's going to be a huge game against Kilkenny," said Cork midfielder Tom Kenny as focus immediately switched to a repeat of the 2006 All-Ireland final. "We've only ever played them in an All-Ireland final.
"It's going to be a big, big game. Hopefully we'll put in the hard work and see what happens in two weeks."
In the aftermath of Sunday's second-half comeback against Clare, Cork's iconic forward Joe Deane was asked to explain the motivation behind such a resounding performance.
"It's just an unbelievable desire to win," said Deane. "Do everything you can for each other and work as hard as you can for each other. To come out of this game was a fantastic achievement.
"This was our third game in a row, after Dublin and Galway, in 15 days. The chances were we would be very flat but as the game went on we got better and better.
"My heart goes out to Clare - they put in a great effort. We played second fiddle to them in the first half but they had seven or eight wides."
Young captain John Gardiner paid tribute to the leaders around him: "It is a special group of players. There are natural leaders all over the field. We needed them. Some of them have been around for a long time and their experience told again.
"It is a great credit to them. They are second to none in professionalism. The way they take training and preparation for matches is unbelievable. And it shows. The lads who are 30 years of age are the lads carrying us again.
"Once we stopped them getting goals - they got two goals which probably they shouldn't have - we knew they would not have the firepower up front to get points so we were happy enough."
The next match against the defending champions, the three-in-a-row chasing Kilkenny on August 10th, would not be expected to attract a full capacity crowd, unlike Dublin's probable stand alone quarter-final on Saturday, August 9th.
Confirmation of the Dublin fixture would ensure the Ulster and Connacht football champions, Armagh and Galway, do not play their last-eight games at GAA headquarters.
The CCCC did announce yesterday Croke Park would be hosting all four round-three qualifier matches next Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
The Tommy Murphy Cup final between Wicklow and Antrim throws-in at noon on Saturday ahead of Leinster finalists Wexford against Down (2pm) before the main event pits Mayo against Tyrone at 4pm.
On Sunday, the repeat of last year's All-Ireland quarter-final between Kerry and Monaghan (4pm) is preceded by Fermanagh against Kildare at 2pm. The Christy Ring Cup final between Westmeath and Carlow has been given the novel stand-alone date of next Friday, also in Croke Park, under lights at 7.30pm.
(Extra-time if necessary in all fixtures, Croke Park unless stated)
Friday
Christy Ring Cup final Westmeath v Carlow, 7.30
Saturday
SFC Qualifiers Round 3
Wexford v Down, 2.0, M Duffy (Sligo), Live RTÉ 2. Mayo v Tyrone, 4.0, C Reilly (Meath), Live RTÉ 2
Tommy Murphy Cup final Antrim v Wicklow, 12.0, V Neary (Mayo).
Christy Ring Cup relegation play-off: London v Roscommon, Portlaoise, 5.0
Sunday
SFC Qualifiers Round 3 Fermanagh v Kildare, 2.0, A Mangan (Kerry), Live RTÉ 2 Kerry v Monaghan, 4.0, M Deegan (Laois), Live RTÉ 2 Nicky Rackard Cup final Louth v Sligo, 12.0, S Whelan (Wexford).
