The draw for the preliminary and first phases of the GAA Hurling Championship Qualifiers were made yesterday.

The preliminary phase draw sees Antrim host Westmeath while Laois will enjoy home advantage against Cork.

In the first round the winners of Laois v Cork will enjoy home advantage against Offaly while Carlow will have to travel to either Antrim or Westmeath.

GAA Hurling Championship - Qualifier Draws (first team enjoys home advantage)

Preliminary Phase - weekending Sat June 18

Antrim v Westmeath; Laois v Cork

Phase One - weekending Sat June 25

Laois/Cork v Offaly; Antrim/Westmeath v Carlow.

No matter who wins the Antrim - Westmeath joust Carlow can approach either game with confidence. Recent narrow losses to these Counties in the past few years will mean that Carlow can be confident of turning either one over, if they get their ‘A' game onto the pitch.

The Westmeath loss in particular was a bitter one as we had got ourselves into a good position just before the break only to leak bad scores before the turnover.

While Westmeath appear to have built on that win by rattling Galway this weekend, they will find it hard to replicate that form for the Qualifiers - and Antrim may have a thing or two to say about that too.

They gave Wexford a fair test in Wexford Park a couple of week's ago and Dinny Cahill's charges will look kindly on this draw too.

No matter who it is we face Carlow have been presented with a realistic opportunity to get back on track quickly. Hopefully it will be grabbed.