Leinster draws provide little cheer for Offaly Gaels

BOTH Offaly's senior hurlers and footballers have been handed seriously difficult tasks in the opening rounds of next year's Leinster Championships. The hurlers face the tie nobody wanted, as they were pitted against All-Ireland champions Kilkenny, while the footballers will face Kildare in the SFC quarter-finals. The winners of the Offaly/Kilkenny SHC quarter-final will meet either Dublin or Wexford in the last four. If the footballers can overcome Kieran McGeeney's Lilywhites, they will take-on Dublin or the winners of the Westmeath v Carlow first round tie. Ollie Baker's men face one of the most difficult tasks possible, with the all-conquering Cat's due in Tullamore. Kilkenny have won 68 Leinster SHC's and added a 34th All-Ireland hurling title recently. when they beat Galway, after a replay, in the final. Kilkenny have also won the last seven editions of the Leinster SHC. The footballers, now under the guidance of Eamonn McDonnell, will be eager to put up a good showing against Kildare, but as with the hurlers, will be roundly unfancied to progress any further. Leinster SFC Semi-Finals: Meath or Wicklow or Longford v Wexford or Laois or Louth; Dublin or Westmeath or Carlow v Kildare or Offaly. Quarter-Finals: Meath v Wicklow or Longford; Wexford v Laois or Louth; Dublin v Westmeath or Carlow; Kildare v Offaly. Leinster SHC Semi-Finals: Galway v Antrim/Westmeath/Laois/Carlow/London; Offaly/Kilkenny v Wexford/Dublin. Quarter-Finals: Antrim/Westmeath/Laois v Carlow/London; Offaly v Kilkenny; Wexford v Dublin. First Round: Antrim/Westmeath v Laois; Carlow v London. Preliminary Round: Antrim v Westmeath.