All repeat pairings avoided in All-Ireland football semi-finals

All repeat pairings in this year’s championship will be avoided in the All-Ireland senior football semi-finals.

Unlike Monday’s quarter-finals where only provincial final and All-Ireland group clashes were considered, the semi-final draw is subject to preventing any repeat pairing where possible.

That would include the likes of Dublin v Meath who met in a Leinster SFC semi-final and Donegal v Monaghan and Armagh v Tyrone, which were Ulster quarter-final and semi-final pairings respectively.

No distinction is made between those games and the one potential repeat provincial final clash — Armagh v Donegal — or the five group matches — Armagh v Dublin, Armagh v Galway, Dublin v Galway, Donegal v Tyrone and Kerry v Meath.

The referees for this weekend’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals have been confirmed. Roscommon’s Paddy Neilan takes charge of Monaghan v Donegal on Saturday before David Coldrick officiates the Tyrone v Dublin clash.

On Sunday, Martin McNally is the man in the middle for Meath v Galway and later Brendan Cawley referees the Armagh v Kerry main event.

Monaghan referee, Martin McNally, will referee Meath v Galway. File picture: Tom Maher/Inpho

Meanwhile, Harry Shine is not expected to be part of the Kilkenny panel for Sunday week’s All-Ireland semi-final after injurying his knee in training recently.

Dicksboro forward Shine came on as a late substitute for Billy Ryan in the Leinster final win over Galway earlier this month.

However, there is good news for Derek Lyng with Eoin Cody having returned to full training as they hope to reach the first final in two years.

Cody just missed out on making the panel for the Galway game. The Cats had a training camp last weekend ahead of their last-four game.

Elsewhere, more tickets for Saturday week’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final between Cork and Dublin are expected to be made available next week.

Tickets made available for the game on general sale sold out on Tuesday but it is anticipated there will be more released days ahead of the game.

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