Antrim's hurlers are ready to pick up the gauntlet thrown down by their footballing colleagues.

Following the shock win by Liam Bradley’s side over Donegal, the Saffrons hurlers are now hoping to bring their own slice of glory to the county when they take part in Phase One of the All Ireland Qualifiers.

Joint manager Dominic McKinley says: “You have to hand it to the footballers, they have given us all a lift. Now it’s up to us.”

Cork, Laois and Offaly will join Antrim in Sunday’s live televised open draw for this stage of the competition and obviously the Ulster champions will be hoping to avoid Cork in particular.

The teams that win these two matches will go straight into Phase Three where they will meet the Phase Two winners who will come from two games involving the defeated provincial semi-finalists.

The identity of these sides should be known after this week-end’s games in Munster and Leinster, two of which are scheduled for tomorrow.

Most attention will focus on the meeting of Leinster and All Ireland champions Kilkenny and Galway at Tullamore (7.00pm) where the westerners are expected to extend Brian Cody’s side.

Also tomorrow Munster rivals Limerick and Waterford will renew their rivalry at Thurles (5.00pm) following their tame draw last week following which Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald lambasted the Munster Council over aspects of the staging of the contest.

On Sunday, Dublin, who defeated Antrim in their opening Leinster tie, will take on Wexford at Nowlan, Park Kilkenny (3.30pm) while the second Munster semi-final between Clare and provincial title favourites Tipperray will take place at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick (4.00pm).