All you need to know about the championship opener between Tipperary and Waterford

There are nine games on the schedule this weekend which is the start of a busy season which will run for sixteen weeks, culminating with the All-Ireland final on July 28th.

Galway are the only reigning provincial champions in action next weekend - they take on London in the Connacht quarter-final
in Ruislip but all eyes from the Premier County will be on the Tipperary footballers as they play Waterford in a huge game for both counties. 

The teams drew earlier this year in the Division 4 league encounter at Bansha and this Sunday afternoons game will be another nailbiter with Waterford looking re-energised this season as Tipperary fail to replace key absentees all spring which meant Paul Kellys team never hit top gear during the league. 

This spring Tipperary were playing most of their games without captain and talisman Steven O'Brien, star forward Conor Sweeney and towering midfielder Mark Russell amongst others on the injured list. New faces emerged as the spring rolled on and they gained valuable experience of the pace of intercounty football. 

Waterford will feel they have a chance after drawing with Tipp in the league encounter while Tipperary will hope to get a confidence boosting win. 

The teams meet for a third successive year in the Munster championship. Tipperary won by four points last year and by
eight points in 2022. Tipperary also beat Waterford in last year’s Tailteann Cup.

Tipperary have won their last eleven championship ties with Waterford who are seeking their first Munster championship win over The Premier County since 1988.

Tipperary finished sixth in Division 4, winning one, drawing two and losing four. Waterford finished bottom-of-the-
table, winning none, drawing one and losing six. The sides drew in their Round 5 clash.

The Tipperary – Waterford winners will play Clare in the Munster semi-final on April 20th. Here are the details of the lat five championship meetings: 

2023: Tipperary 3-9 Waterford 1-11 (Munster quarter-final)
2022: Tipperary 2-13 Waterford 1-8 (Munster quarter-final)
2018: Tipperary 0-20 Waterford 0-9 (Munster quarter-final)
2016: Tipperary 1-15 Waterford 1-7 (Munster quarter-final)
2015: Tipperary 1-24 Waterford 0-5 (Munster quarter-final)

Here are all the fixtures this weekend:

SATURDAY
Connacht SF quarter-final: London v Galway, McGovern Park, Ruislip, 3.00
SUNDAY
Connacht SF quarter-finals: Leitrim v Sligo, Avant Money Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, 3.30; New York v Mayo, Gaelic Park,
New York, 3.00 (8.00 Irish time)
Leinster SF first round: Wexford v Carlow, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2.30; Longford v Meath, Glennon Brothers Pearse
Park, 3.00; Westmeath v Wicklow, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 3.30
Munster SF quarter-final: Waterford v Tipperary, Fraher Field, 2.00; Cork v Limerick, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 2.00
Ulster preliminary round: Monaghan v Cavan, Clones, 3.30