Charity was in short supply for Limerick when they drew hot pots Meath in Round One of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Qualifiers.

Limerick were the first team drawn out of a massive glass bowl by association President Nicky Brennan in the TV3 televised broadcast in the depths of Croke Park.

Not that any team was going to prove a walkover, Limerick could have done with easier first round opponents.

"To me, this fixture is the pick of the opening round games," commented former Dublin star Senan Connell.

"Since their defeat to Cork at the semi-final stage in Munster, their manager Mickey 'Ned' O'Sullivan has been predicting that his team will play at Croke Park this Summer and now he is going to be severely tested on that statement. On the other hand, Meath are on high alert following what happened in Leinster and will be pretty keen to make an early statement in the qualifiers, beginning with the game against Limerick."

To Limerick's advantage is that the fixture will be held at the Gaelic Grounds in a fortnight's time. Commented Offaly's 1982 All-Ireland winning manager Eugene McGee: "The real overriding situation for me with relation to this draw is that all the more experienced teams – the likes of Meath, Tyrone, Donegal and Down – will also be expected to confidently go out and win their first round games in the qualifiers. The only exception might be the Derry and Monaghan game in Clones."

Limerick's record in the qualifiers has been pretty dismal, but O'Sullivan has confidently predicted that his side can recover from the horrific provincial semi-final loss to Cork and make the headlines this Summer.

It's expecting a lot of Limerick to topple the royals, but home advantage will count for a lot later this month.

Meanwhile, Limerick will be at home to Offaly in phase three of the qualifiers to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship the weekend after next.

The draw was predictable enough with the Shannonisiders out against either the faithful-county or Dublin, with home/away the only real issue to be decided.

President Brennan again gave Limerick the plum home advantage, but Offaly are the most hopeful of the underdogs still remaining.

It will not be forgotten by Limerick followers that Offaly prevented Limerick reaching the last eight of the championship only back in 2003 at Semple Stadium in Thurles.

Two years ago, however, Limerick handed Offaly a clipping, winning with ten points to spare in the qualifiers at O'Connor Park in Tullamore, a game that marked the changing of the managerial guard–Richie Bennis for Joe McKenna.

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