Kerry v Tipp clash lined up for Semple double header

Munster Council chiefs have refixed their senior football championship quarter-final between Tipperary and Kerry to May 27 at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

The game, originally set for May 20, will now be part of a double header with the provincial SHC quarter-final between Tipperary and Limerick. The football will throw in at 2pm with the hurling at 4pm.

Arising from that change, provincial officials have also confirmed another double header for Saturday, May 26 at McDonagh Park, Nenagh where Tipperary and Kerry face off in the Munster JFC quarter-final while Tipperary meet Limerick in the Munster IHC quarter-final, at times to be confirmed.

Munster Council PRO Ed Donnelly last night explained the decision was reached following a request from Tipperary officials before Christmas.

“There were two senior championship matches fixed for Semple Stadium on consecutive Sundays involving Tipperary and they asked if the games could be played as a double header.

“However such a change would have impacted Kerry and Limerick so the matter was discussed at a Munster Council meeting. Officials were asked to return to their counties and come back with their thoughts.

“At this week’s meeting there was unanimous agreement that the double header would go ahead on May 27 and we also made a decision to play the junior football and intermediate hurling games as a double header a day earlier, as both of those games had originally been pencilled in as curtain-raisers to the senior games in the respective codes.

“This wasn’t a conscious decision by the Munster Council in terms of strategy and creating senior double headers but it has worked out on this occasion and is something we could consider if a county found itself in a similar position of having senior sides out over back to back weekends.”

* For full list of confirmed Munster Senior Championship fixtures for 2012, visit http://munster.gaa.ie/fixtures/senior/