Kilkenny and Tipp must work harder to make final

THERE is now the promise of a more competitive conclusion to the Allianz NHL as a result of Tipperary’s loss to Cork in Semple Stadium on Saturday.

In different circumstances, Tipp and League champions Kilkenny would automatically have ensured their places in the final of Division 1 if they each advanced with full points and won their next game.

In that event, (with points being carried over) because of the placings of the other counties, their points totals could not be matched.

However, the rules of the competition specify that the group winners should be in direct competition in the first of the three extra games - and, while it has yet to be decided, there is the likelihood of Tipperary having to meet the All-Ireland champions in Nowlan Park, on April 13.

The policy of the Games Administration Committee in this regard is that by the end of the preliminary series, each county will have played four home games and four away.

And, so far Kilkenny have only been at home for two rounds (against Galway and Clare), whereas Tipperary have played twice in Nenagh and twice in Thurles. As far as the GAC are concerned, however, the first round game against Tipperary (in Semple Stadium) was a ‘home’ fixture for Limerick, except that they agreed to concede their advantage because of the Gaelic Grounds being unavailable due to reconstruction work.

The venues and dates for the games will be decided by the GAC at their meeting tomorrow evening.

Limerick managed their only victory in five outings when they beat Derry by 31 points, which was the biggest margin against the Northerners. Cork won by 29 points, Offaly by 18, Tipperary by 11 and Wexford by a mere five!

It was Limerick’s poorest return from a preliminary series since the 1994/’95 campaign, when they managed just a draw against Laois in the opening four rounds before winning two of their remaining matches.

* Former Clare manager Ger Loughnane will be the guest of honour and the fourth annual WLRFM/Lawlors Hotel GAA Awards in Lawlors Hotel, Dungarvan next Saturday. There will be a presentation of an overall award from the 12 monthly award winners, as well as a ‘Hall of Fame’ award.