Banner chiefs confident fixture pile-up will be alleviated

Clare GAA officials are confident they will have county football and hurling champions crowned in time for the start of the AIB provincial championships.

And it has been confirmed by the Munster Council that the semi-final clash, between the Clare and Cork hurling champions, will go back a week until Sunday, November 17, should leeway be required.

As things stand, there are three rounds of the Clare senior hurling championship to be completed — quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

With the last-eight ties down for decision over the coming weekend, it is envisaged that hurling kingpins will be known on Sunday, November 3.

And that would give Clare’s representatives two weeks of breathing space before tackling a first outing in the Munster championship.

Clare are grappling with a fixtures backlog that emerged after the county’s U21 and senior hurlers stormed to All-Ireland glory.

The local calendar was congested even further when the senior final went to a replay, which left Clare chiefs playing catch-up as just one round of the senior hurling championship had been played back in May.

But results went for Clare officials over the weekend as some dual clubs bit the dust in the senior hurling.

And barring draws, that competition will be completed over the next three Sundays. By next weekend, the county SFC quarter-finalists should be known, which will leave Clare with three Sundays to run off the remainder of the competition.

The Banner County’s football winners are scheduled to play the Waterford or Limerick champions on Sunday, November 17.

Munster Council chairman Robert Frost confirmed last night that Cork agreed to go back a week, after Clare had spoken with provincial council officials.

Any fixture change was dependent on agreement with Cork, who look set to have hurling champions crowned on Sunday, October 27.

Frost said: “Cork have agreed to go back a week [until November 17].

“Clare met us regarding fixtures and we told them to talk to Cork.

“Cork agreed and that will give them leeway. It suited Cork as well.”

Meanwhile, Derek Lyons was ratified as the new Waterford minor hurling manager for 2014 at last night’s county board meeting at Lawlor’s Hotel in Dungarvan.

The Dungarvan clubman takes over from Sean Power as the Déise seek to defend their All Ireland title. John Tracey (Passage) and Paul Keane (St Mollerans) join the backroom team.

Another Dungarvan native, Eoin Curran, was appointed as minorfootball boss for next season. There was no update provided on the status of the search for a new senior hurling manager at last night’s gathering.