League final is rescheduled to avoid clash with Munster match

GAA chiefs have opted for a Sunday evening throw-in for their Allianz NHL Division 1 decider on May 2 to avoid a clash with Munster’s Heineken Cup semi-final earlier that day.

Tony McGahan’s side face Biarritz at 3.45pm (Irish time) and GAA chiefs have scheduled the NHL Division 1 showdown between Cork and Galway for Semple Stadium, Thurles at 7pm, with the Division 2 decider at 5pm.

GAA communications manager Alan Milton last night insisted that it would have “made no sense” to stage the hurling match in opposition to the rugby tie.

“It’s fairly easy to see why the Central Competitions Control Committee made their decision. It would have made no sense whatsoever to have the game on that afternoon. The Saturday was not an option for the hurling game because of the All-Ireland U21 football final. The fact that there’s a Bank Holiday Monday that weekend made the Sunday evening an option, because people are not under the same pressures to go home for work the next morning.”

The GAA also announced yesterday that the all four NFL finals will be held in Croke Park on the weekend of April 24 and 25.

Meanwhile Pearse Stadium in Galway has been ruled out of bounds for Connacht’s glamour Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final against Jonny Wilkinson’s Toulon. Connacht have home advantage as they bid to reach their first European final but the 34,000 capacity venue in Salthill will not be made available for the game.

Connacht are likely to proceed with plans to introduce temporary stands at the Sportsground, where they are unbeaten since September, as they did when they hosted Harlequins in the semi-finals six years ago.

The chairman of Galway County Board Gerry Larkin said that while he wished Connacht the best of luck in the semi-final, making Pearse Stadium available to stage the game was not an option.

He said: “Central Council only have the option under rule to allow Croke Park for use of games other than Gaelic Games. It is not open to any other stadium in the country.”

But he added: “It is timely that this issue has come up this week and there is a motion in front of congress asking to give Central Council the power to decide the use of Croke Park for other sports if the need arises.

“Galway will be supporting this motion and I think it will be passed, but it applies only to Croke Park.”

Meanwhile Munster coach Tony McGahan is awaiting medical reports on Doug Howlett and Ian Dowling after last Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final victory over Northampton in Thomond Park. Howlett (hamstring) and Dowling (knee) are the most serious injury concerns and underwent scans yesterday to discover the extent of their problems.

Saturday. April 24: NFL Division 4 final: Limerick v Waterford, Croke Park, 5pm; NFL Division 3 final: Antrim v Sligo, Croke Park, 7pm.

Sunday April 25: NFL Division 2 final: Down v Armagh, Croke Park, 2pm; NFL Division 1 final: Cork v Mayo, Croke Park, 4pm.

Saturday May 1: NHL Division 3B final: Wicklow v Louth, Parnell Park, 7pm.

Sunday May 2: NHL Division 2 final: TBC v TBC, Semple Stadium, 5pm; NHL Division 1 final: Cork v Galway, Semple Stadium, 7pm.