Tipp cancel club games to let county stars rest

Tipperary GAA chiefs pulled the plug on a number of club games involving 10 members of the county senior football panel yesterday.

Eight of Peter Creedon’s squad for Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC round three qualifier victory over Antrim were set to play club matches just 24 hours after beating the Saffrons 0-12 to 0-10. And two more — Éire Óg Annacarty pair Brian Fox and Richie Ryan — had been scheduled to play in this evening’s West SHC semi-final against Cashel King Cormacs.

Five players who started against Antrim were asked to play with their clubs yesterday. Moyle Rovers pair Alan Campbell and Peter Acheson, Killenaule’s Paddy Codd, Michael Quinlivan of Clonmel Commercials and Fethard goalkeeper Paul Fitzgerald were to see action, with Fethard v Ardfinnan and Clonmel Óg v Moyle Rovers down for decision in the county SFC.

The Moyle Rovers clash would also have involved Brian Mulvihill, who came off the bench to score a vital late point for Tipp against Antrim.

Fox and Ryan, meanwhile, also started against Antrim but have been told their club hurling match has now been postponed.

As well as Quinlivan, Commercials are represented on the Tipperary senior football panel by subs Donal Lynch and Aldo Matassa.

It is understood Tipp panel members discussed the situation at Horse and Jockey yesterday, where they gathered for a recovery pool session.

The unanimous verdict from panel members was that the games should be postponed — and the county board acceded to that request.

The news has come as a huge relief to Creedon and his backroom staff, who had looked for some leeway as Tipp face into Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC round four qualifier.

Premier County top brass now face a fixtures pile-up in the coming weeks due to the “unique set of circumstances” associated with Tipp’s huge recent success in both codes.

The minor and senior hurlers scored a first provincial double since 2001 on Sunday, while the U21 and intermediate hurlers are also preparing for Munster finals. The minor footballers, meanwhile, reclaimed their provincial title and the reigning All-Ireland champions are now preparing for a quarter-final with Mayo.

A Tipperary county board statement read: “Due to the unique set of circumstances associated with Tipperary’s success in recent weeks it has been decided in consultation with the county chairman to postpone all games scheduled involving players who played in Saturday’s senior football qualifier.

“This decision has been taken in the interest of player welfare and to give the players involved the opportunity to perform to the maximum in next Saturday’s qualifier versus the losers of the Ulster final.”