Limerick will have to travel to Tullamore for the tie which is likely to take place on Saturday, July 10.
McCarthy and his management team will be looking to lift morale after last week’s 13-point loss to Cork.
Offaly found themselves in the qualifiers after Saturday’s replay defeat to Galway. Joe Dooley’s men surprised many when almost shocking Galway in the Leinster semi-final two weeks ago in Croke Park.
Elsewhere in the draw it will be a meeting of former Clare team-mates when Anthony Daly’s Dublin host Ger O’Loughlin’s Clare.
If Limerick progress past Offaly they could line-up a clash with the winner from Tipperary and Wexford or the winner from the Carlow and Antrim qualifier games.
Limerick’s Saturday, July 10 clash in the midlands will be the first championship meeting of the sides since July 12, 2008 in the Gaelic Grounds.
The Faithful County were ten-point winners on that most disappointing occasion which ended the term of Richie Bennis as Limerick manager.
Offaly’s Joe Bergin hit a hat-trick of goals as they were 3-19 to 0-18 winners on an evening that saw Limerick booed from the field by the home support.
This season they sides met in the National Hurling League.
The round five tie took place in O’Connor Park in Tullamore and in what was Limerick’s best performance of the campaign, Offaly emerged 2-17 to 3-13 winners. Richie McKeogh scored two goals in that defeat and is among those carrying injuries and in danger of missing the qualifier. Limerick will also be planning without Paudie McNamara. The wing-forward and free-taker departs for Australia this week.
Also on the doubtful list are Sean O’Riordan (hamstring), Richie McKeogh (ankle), Andrew Brennan (foot) and Na Pairsaigh’s David Lynch who failed to line out for his club in their weekend defeat to Patrickswell.
Elsewhere in the Limerick club championships Kilmallock beat Doon and Bruff defeated Claughaun.
After the weekend’s action the countdown now begins in earnest to next Sunday’s Munster senior football championship final between Limerick and Kerry. As Limerick bid to end a wait stretching back to 1896 the Munster Council have confirmed that the final in Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney will have a 2pm start. The curtin-raiser will be the minor final between Cork and Kerry, which has a 11.45am start.
Ahead of the Munster final Limerick manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan is hoping that his side can go one better than last season when they almost defeated Cork in the provincial decider.
“Last year it was a big occasion to be in the final, but this year it’s an opportunity. There’s a difference. It’s an opportunity to perform. The same hype isn’t there. The lads are more mature, a year down the line and they’re better equipped than last year,” said Mickey Ned O’Sullivan.
“The last two years we were aspiring for respect, but respect doesn’t boil the pot. At this stage we have to go a step further. You don’t get things in football because you deserve them, you get them because you take them. So, I think the lads are ready to take the next step now,” said the Kerry man.
“It’s good for Limerick football to be exposed to the Munster final again because there will be a lot of young Limerick lads watching it and they’ll be aspiring to play in the future so it’s good. It sows the seeds of future success,” O’Sullivan said.
“These lads are as professional a group of players as I’ve come across.
“They’re focused, they believe in themselves and they know that luck or anybody else isn’t going to win it for them. They’ve got to go out and do it for themselves. They know they’ve got to perform.”
Tickets for the final are available to purchase from the Gaelic Grounds from 9.30am to 5pm. Tickets for the stand cost €35, sideline €30, terrace €20, juvenile (family) €5 and juvenile (terrace) €3.
In a new initiative, tickets are also available to purchase from the Munster Ticket Van.
Today the van will visit a number of Centra and SuperValu stores throughout Limerick - Reidy’s Centra, Foynes (12 noon to 1pm), Dooly’s SuperValu, Newcastle West (2.30pm to 3pm), Garvey’s SuperValu, Newcastle West (3.15pm to 3.45pm), Ballylanders (4.30pm to 5.30pm) and The Crossroads, Pallasgreen (6-7pm).
JEROME O’CONNELL
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