Munster Council hopeful thaw will see final played

MUNSTER Council officials are confident tomorrow’s showpiece club senior football decider will go ahead despite the need for second pitch inspection of the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick today.

Provincial bosses walked the field around 2pm yesterday and expressed concern about some of the areas along the stand side of the ground, which had not yet thawed fully.

Chiefs are hopeful that the additional 24 hours coupled with rising temperatures will allow the clash of Nemo Rangers and Dr Crokes to go ahead as scheduled.

If the match is postponed, for the second time, it is unlikely that the decider will be played before the end of the year.

Munster PRO Jim Forbes explained: “The pitch is in relatively good condition. However, there are some areas still in shade under the stand which remain a concern.

“Hopefully that area will have thawed out fully come the next inspection. Given the conditions and the forecast we would be confident the game will go ahead as planned for all concerned.”

Mr Forbes revealed that the Mallow GAA grounds, which hosts the province’s two junior finals tomorrow, had passed an earlier inspection.

Meanwhile, the Ulster Club senor football final could be postponed for a third time, after a pitch inspection yesterday failed to confirm that the St Tiernach’s Park pitch will be playable for tomorrow’s title shoot-out between Crossmaglen and Glenties.

Another inspection of the Clones venue will take place this morning , when provincial officials are hopeful they will be able to give the go-ahead for the senior and junior deciders.

The JFC final between Monaghan’s Corduff and Swanlinbar of Cavan is due to be played as a curtain-raiser.

And the IFC final, in which Lisnaskea of Fermanagh are due to play Doohamlet of Monaghan this afternoon, is also subject to a second pitch inspection.

Ulster Council PRO Oliver Galligan said the prospects of tomorrow’s double bill going ahead are encouraging.

“It’s looking good for the two games in Clones, we would be fairly sure that it will go ahead,” he said.

But there is more uncertainty around today’s IFC decider.

“It is an earlier game. If it could get another day, it would probably be fine fir Sunday,” he added.