Munster chiefs to consider U21 semi fixture change request

MUNSTER Council chiefs will decide today on whether to accede to a request from the Limerick county board to defer next week’s Bord Gáis Energy provincial U21HC semi-final due to the proximity to the county senior hurlers All-Ireland quarter-final meeting with Dublin.

But the indications are that the provincial body will look favourably on the request to change the game from Thursday July 21 with the following Tuesday July 26 mooted as the most likely new date for the game.

Donal O’Grady’s Limerick side face Anthony Daly’s Dublin charges in Semple Stadium on Sunday week but three highly-rated young Limerick attackers — Kevin Downes, Graeme Mulcahy and Declan Hannon — are slated to play in the U21HC semi-final in Cusack Park in Ennis on Thursday week, just three days before the senior clash.

O’Grady expressed his fears after last Saturday night’s All-Ireland qualifier victory over Antrim in Parnell Park about his prized young talents facing burnout due to their hectic upcoming schedule.

Clare county board officials have been amenable to the change when contacted by their counterparts in Limerick, which was a significant help when the Limerick county board made their case to the Munster Council for the game to be moved. The one potential stumbling block is viewed to be the possibility of a replay being needed if the semi-final on July 26 was to finish in a draw after extra-time.

The decision to shift the game to July 26 means the winners of the Clare and Limerick tie will have only a week to prepare for the final which is scheduled for Wednesday August 3. In contrast the winners of this Friday’s semi-final tie between Cork and Tipperary will have two and a half weeks to get set for the decider. Fitting a potential semi-final replay into that short time frame could prove problematic.

However, it is expected that the move will receive the green light and the news will be a major boost to O’Grady as he will be able to prepare his Limerick senior side for the All-Ireland quarter-final without interruptions.