Twelve started out last May in the race for the Liam McCarthy Cup but Dublin, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath have been eliminated, leaving eight counties heading for the Guinness All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals next weekend. Among the contenders are Cork who are bidding to become the first county to win the title on three successive years since their Rebel predecessors achieved it in 1976-77-78. It promises to be a feast of the highest clash action in Semple Stadium, Thurles on Saturday evening and in Croke Park on Sunday. The schedule is as follows. Saturday Cork v Limerick, Semple Stadium, 4.15 Galway v Kilkenny, Semple Stadium, 6.0 Sunday Clare v Wexford, Croke Park, 2.15 Tipperary v Waterford, Croke Park 4.0. (All games will be shown live on RTE television) The winners will advance to the All-Ireland semi-finals which will be played on August 6th and 13th. CORK v LIMERICK They meet for the first time in the championship since 2004 when Cork won a Munster semi-final by 1-18 to 2-12 at the Limerick Gaelic Grounds. Ben O'Connor (1-7) and Joe Deane (0-4) were Cork's top scorers while Niall Moran (2-0) and Sean O'Connor (2-0) were Limerick's top marksmen. Cork, the defending All-Ireland champions, are seeking their 12th successive championship win. Their last defeat was in the 2004 Munster final which they lost to Waterford. Since then they have beaten Tipperary (3), Clare (2), Waterford (2), Antrim (1), Wexford (1), Kilkenny (1), Galway (1). Limerick are back in the All-Ireland quarter-final for the second successive year, having lost to Kilkenny by five points last year. Limerick are seeking their first win in Croke Park since the 1996 All-Ireland semi-final where they beat Antrim. Since then they have lost twice to Wexford (1996 All-Ireland final and 2001 All-Ireland quarter final) and to Kilkenny (2005 All-Ireland quarter-final) at HQ. Cork beat Limerick in their last two championship meetings in 2004 and 2002 while Limerick's last success was in 2001. HOW THEY GOT HERE CORK Cork 0-20 Clare 0-14 (Munster semi-final) Cork 2-14 Tipperary 1-14 (Munster final) LIMERICK Tipperary 0-22 Limerick 2-12 (Munster quarter-final) Clare 2-21 Limerick 0-10 (All-Ireland qualifier) Limerick 2-29 Offaly 2-19 (All-Ireland qualifier) Limerick 2-16 Dublin 1-13 (All-Ireland qualifier) LAST TEN CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS 2004 - Cork 1-18 Limerick 2-12 (Munster semi-final) 2002 - Cork 1-16 Limerick 1-15 (All-Ireland qualifier) 2001 - Limerick 1-16 Cork 1-15 (Munster quarter-final) 2000 - Cork 2-17 Limerick 1-11 (Munster semi-final) 1998 - Cork 1-20 Limerick 3-11 (Munster quarter-final) 1996 - Limerick 3-18 Cork 1-8 (Munster quarter-final) 1994 - Limerick 4-14 Cork 4-11 (Munster quarter-final) 1992 - Cork 1-22 Limerick 3-11 (Munster final) 1987 - Cork 3-14 Limerick 0-10 (Munster semi-final) replay 1997 - Cork 3-11 Limerick 3-11 (Munster semi-final) Cork 6, Limerick 3, Draw 1. ALL-IRELAND QUARTER FINAL RECORD 1997-2005 CORK 2004 - Cork 2-26 Antrim 0-10 2005 - Cork 1-18 Waterford 1-13 Played 2, Won 2. LIMERICK 2001 - Wexford 4-10 Limerick 2-15 2005 - Kilkenny 0-18 Limerick 0-13 Played 2, Lost 2. GALWAY v KILKENNY The clash in last year's Guinness All-Ireland semi-final produced an epic as Galway edged home by a goal (5-18 to 4-18) in a thrilling finish. Galway led by 2-11 to 3-5 at half-time but the sides were level after 43 minutes. However, Galway went on a scoring blitz and led by 5-17 to 3-12 after 57 minutes before Kilkenny staged a great recovery which ultimately fell short by three points. Ger Farragher on 2-9 (2-1 from play) and Niall Healy on 3-0 (all from play) contributed 5-9 of Galway's total while Henry Shefflin hit 1-9 (1-1 from play) and Eddie Brennan scored 2-4 (all from play) for Kilkenny. Between them, the deadly quartet scored a total of 8-22. A year earlier, Kilkenny had blitzed Galway in the All-Ireland qualifiers in Thurles (4-20 to 1-10) while in 2001 Galway prevailed in the All-Ireland semi-final, winning by 2-15 to 1-13. Galway have played more All-Ireland quarter-finals than any other county since the All-Ireland system was changed in 1997. They have played eight quarter-finals, winning 3, drawing 1 and losing 4. HOW THEY GOT HERE GALWAY Galway 7-18 Laois 2-13 (All-Ireland qualifier) Waterford 1-25 Galway 2-20 (All-Ireland qualifier) Galway 3-21 Westmeath 0-6 (All-Ireland qualifier) KILKENNY Kilkenny 1-23 Westmeath 1-9 (Leinster semi-final) Kilkenny 1-23 Wexford 2-12 (Leinster final) LAST TEN CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES Kilkenny lead 6-4 in their last ten championship clashes with Galway, stretching back to 1979. 2005 - Galway 5-18 Kilkenny 4-18 (All-Ireland semi-final) 2004 - Kilkenny 4-20 Galway 1-10 (All-Ireland qualifiers) 2001 - Galway 2-15 Kilkenny 1-13 (All-Ireland semi-final) 2000 - Kilkenny 2-19 Galway 0-17 (All-Ireland semi-final) 1997 - Kilkenny 4-15 Galway 3-16 (All-Ireland quarter-final) 1993 - Kilkenny 2-17 Galway 1-15 (All-Ireland final) 1992 - Kilkenny 2-13 Galway 1-12 (All-Ireland semi-final) 1987 - Galway 1-12 Kilkenny 0-9 (All-Ireland final) 1986 - Galway 4-12 Kilkenny 0-13 (All-Ireland semi-final) 1982 - Kilkenny 2-20 Galway 2-10 (All-Ireland semi-final) 1979 - Kilkenny 2-12 Galway 1-8 (All-Ireland final) ALL-IRELAND QUARTER FINAL RECORD 1997-2005 GALWAY 2005 - Galway 2-20 Tipperary 2-18 2002 - Clare 1-15 Galway 0-17 2001 - Galway 4-23 Derry 1-11 2000 - Galway 1-14 Tipperary 0-15 1999 - Clare 3-18 Galway 2-14 (replay) 1999 - Clare 3-15 Galway 2-18 (draw) 1998 - Waterford 1-20 Galway 1-10 1997 - Kilkenny 4-15 Galway 3-16 Played 8, Won 3, Drew 1, Lost 4 KILKENNY 1997 - Kilkenny 4-15 Galway 3-16 2004 - Kilkenny 1-13 Clare 1-13 (draw) 2004 - Kilkenny 1-11 Clare 0-9 (replay) 2005 - Kilkenny 0-18 Limerick 0-13 Played 4, Won 3, Drew 1. CLARE v WEXFORD Unlike the other three quarter-final pairings which are based on long standing rivalries, this will be only the third ever championship meeting between the counties. They first met in the All-Ireland qualifiers in 2002 when Clare won easily on a 3-15 to 3-7 scoreline in Portlaoise. The sides also met in last year's All-Ireland quarter-final which Clare also won easily by 1-20 to 0-12. However, Wexford will be encouraged by the League clash with Clare in Wexford Park on February 26 last when they won by 2-13 to 0-11 on a day when Rory Jacob hit 1-8 (1-4 from play) PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES 2002 - Clare 3-15 Wexford 3-7 (All-Ireland qualifiers) 2005 - Clare 1-20 Wexford 0-12 (All-Ireland quarter-final) HOW THEY GOT HERE CLARE Cork 0-20 Clare 0-14 (Munster semi-final) Clare 2-21 Limerick 0-10 (All-Ireland qualifier) Clare 4-21 Dublin 1-16 (All-Ireland qualifier) Clare 2-15 Offaly 1-9 (All-Ireland qualifier) WEXFORD Wexford 0-9 Offaly 0-8 (Leinster semi-final) Kilkenny 1-23 Wexford 2-12 (Leinster final) ALL-IRELAND QUARTER FINAL RECORD 1997-2005 CLARE 2005 - Clare 1-20 Wexford 0-12 2004 - Kilkenny 1-11 Clare 0-9 (replay) 2004 - Clare 1-13 Kilkenny 1-13 (draw) 2002 - Clare 1-15 Galway 1-14 1999 - Clare 3-18 Galway 2-14 (replay) 1999 - Clare 3-15 Galway 2-18 (draw) Played 6, Won 3, Drew 2, Lost 1. WEXFORD 2001 - Wexford 4-10 Limerick 2-15 2003 - Wexford 2-15 Antrim 2-12 2005 - Clare 1-20 Wexford 0-12 Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1 TIPPERARY v WATERFORD They clash for the second time in seven weeks, having already met in this year's Guinness Munster semi-final in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on June 4 when Tipperary won by 3-14 to 1-12. Eoin Kelly scored 2-9 for Tipperary (2-3 from play) on a day when they led by nine points five minutes into the second half. However, Waterford, who had shot 11 wides in the first half, rallied and cut the margin to two points with 15 minutes remaining before Tipperary regained control to run out eight point victors. HOW THEY GOT HERE Tipperary 0-22 Limerick 2-12 (Munster quarter-final) Tipperary 3-14 Waterford 1-12 (Munster semi-final) Cork 2-14 Tipperary 1-14 (Munster final) WATERFORD Tipperary 3-14 Waterford 1-12 (Munster semi-final) Waterford 3-22 Westmeath 1-14 (All-Ireland qualifier) Waterford 1-25 Galway 2-20 (All-Ireland qualifier) Waterford 2-17 Laois 1-13 (All-Ireland qualifier) LAST TEN CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS 2005 - Tipperary 3-14 Waterford 1-12 2004 - Waterford 4-10 Tipperary 3-12 2002 - Waterford 2-23 Tipperary 3-12 2000 - Tipperary 0-17 Waterford 0-14 1998 - Waterford 0-21 Tipperary 2-12 1996 - Tipperary 1-14 Waterford 1-11 1995 - Tipperary 4-23 Waterford 1-11 1989 - Tipperary 0-26 Waterford 2-8 1983 - Waterford 4-13 Tipperary 2-15 1973 - Tipperary 1-16 Waterford 2-8 Tipperary 6 Waterford 4 ALL-IRELAND QUARTER FINAL RECORD 1997-2005 TIPPERARY 1997 - Tipperary 3-24 Down 3-8 2000 - Galway 1-14 Tipperary 0-15 2002 - Tipperary 1-25 Antrim 2-12 2003 - Tipperary 2-16 Offaly 2-11 2005 - Galway 2-20 Tipperary 2-18 Played 5, Won 3, Lost 2. WATERFORD 1998 - Waterford 1-20 Galway 1-10 2005 - Cork 1-18 Waterford 1-13 Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1. GUINNESS ALL-IRELAND QUARTER-FINAL SHORTS * Kilkenny are bidding to reach the All-Ireland semi-final for the 10th successive year. They last time they failed to make the last four was in 1996 when they lost a Leinster quarter-final clash to Wexford. Since then they have reached nine successive All-Ireland semi-finals, winning in 1998-99-2000-2002-2003-2004 and losing in 1997-2001-2005. *Galway are bidding to reach their second successive All-Ireland semi-final for the first time since 2001. *Cork are bidding to reach the All-Ireland semi-final for the 4th successive year. They won the previous three, beating Wexford (replay) in 2003, Antrim (2004) and Clare (2005). *Limerick last reached the All-Ireland semi-final in 1996 where they beat Antrim. *Clare are attempting to reach the All-Ireland semi-final for the 7th time in 12 years, having previously qualified in 1995-97-98-99-2002-2005. *Wexford have appeared in seven All-Ireland semi-finals (including replays) since 1996. They won in 1996, drew in 2001 and 2003 and lost in 1997, 2001 (replay), 2003 (replay) and 2004. *Tipperary have qualified for four All-Ireland semi-finals in the last ten years. They won in 1997 and 2001 and lost in 2002 and 2003. *Waterford have reached the All-Ireland semi-final three times since 1998. They lost all three ties to Kilkenny (1998 and 2004) and to Clare in 2002. 2006 GUINNESS SHC SCOREBOARD MUNSTER May 14: Quarter-final: Tipperary 0-22 Limerick 2-12, Thurles. May 28: Cork 0-20 Clare 0-14, Thurles. June 4: Tipperary 3-14 Waterford 1-12 Pairc Ui Chaoimh. June 25: Final: Cork 2-14 Tipperary 1-14, Thurles. LEINSTER May 21: Quarter-finals: Westmeath 0-13 Dublin 0-11, Portlaoise; Offaly 2-12 Laois 0-8, Portlaoise. June 10: Semi-final: Kilkenny 1-23 Westmeath 1-9, Mullingar. June 11: Semi-final: Wexford 0-9 Offaly 0-8, Nowlan Park. July 2: Kilkenny 1-23 Wexford 2-12 ULSTER May 7: Quarter-final: Antrim 2-16 London 1-14, Ruislip. May 14: Semi-final: Antrim 2-23 Down 0-12, Casement Park. May 21: Semi-final: New York 1-18 Derry 1-12, Gaelic Park Final: Deferred ALL-IRELAND QUALIFIERS June 17: Group A: Galway 7-18 Laois 2-13, Portlaoise; Group B: Offaly 1-17 Dublin 0-17, Parnell Park. June 18: Group A: Waterford 3-22 Westmeath 1-14 Mullingar; Group B: Clare 2-21 Limerick 0-10, Cusack Park. July 1: Group A: Laois 2-15 Westmeath 2-9, Mullingar; Group B: Dublin 4-21 Dublin 1-16, Parnell Park; Limerick 2-29 Offaly 2-19, Tullamore. July 2: Waterford 1-25 Galway 2-20, Walsh Park. July 8: Group A: Galway 3-21 Westmeath 0-8, Pearse Stadium; Waterford 2-17 Laois 1-13, Portlaoise; Group B: Limerick 2-16 Dublin 1-13, Gaelic Grounds; Dublin; Clare 2-15 Offaly 1-9, Gaelic Grounds. July 15: Relegation final: Dublin 0-16 Westmeath 0-8, Tullamore (Westmeath drop down to Tier 2 (Christy Ring Cup) next season) ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIPS Next Saturday: All-Ireland quarter-finals: Cork v Limerick, Thurles, 4.15; Galway v Kilkenny, Thurles, 6.0 Next Sunday: All-Ireland quarter-finals: Clare v Wexford, Croke Park, 2.15; Tipperary v Waterford, Croke Park, 4.0. Aug 6: All-Ireland semi-final, Croke Park. Aug 13: All-Ireland semi-final, Croke Park. Sept 3: Final, Croke Park. Tweet

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