Walsh: U21 show goes on despite Leaving Cert

Munster Council chairman Sean Walsh insists the provincial body’s hands are tied with the timing of U21 Hurling Championship and admits it is unfortunate that the tie clashes with the Leaving Cert exams.

Cork’s preparations to do battle with Tipperary on June 6 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh have been hampered by the unavailability of Darren Sweetnam due to exams. But Walsh claimed it would cause too many complications to defer the championship until after the Leaving Cert was completed.

“You must remember that when we draw up our schedule, the whole plan is to get a team qualified from Munster and ready for the All-Ireland series. We’d love to say that we could move it back to facilitate Leaving Cert exams. But if we do that, you’re then asking players to play a first round very close to a semi-final and, if there’s a replay, that could cause further problems.