Clonlara get Munster date deferred

Clonlara have been successful in their bid to have the provincial semi-final meeting of the Clare and Cork senior hurling champions postponed until November 17th.

The fixture was originally pencilled in for November 10, but the Munster Council, with the consent of the Cork County Board, have agreed to delay the game to accommodate the Clare championship.

Clonlara were due to meet Sixmilebridge in this weekend’s county semi-final but asked to have the tie moved back a week due to the unavailability of Clare defender Domhnall O’Donovan.

Clonlara’s request was supported by fellow semi-finalists Ballyea, who have a number of players, including Tony Kelly, currently involved with their sister club Clondegad in the Clare football championship.

The Munster Council’s decision means the Clare SHC final can now go ahead on the weekend of November 9-10th.

Banner chiefs were under pressure to run off the local hurling championship given there were no games played during the four month period in which Davy Fitzgerald’s side marched to All-Ireland glory. Although the intervention of the Munster Council has now eased hurling concerns, there are three rounds still to be played in the football competition before the Clare representatives face provincial action on November 17th.

“The Munster Council are happy to work with all the counties in helping with any difficulties they may have and on this occasion we were happy to help out Clare,” said Munster Council chairman Robert Frost.

“Clonlara put in the request and we saw no problem in postponing the game a week so long as the Cork County Board were agreeable.

“The postponement of this game will have no impact on the date of the Munster final which will still go ahead on November 24.

“We are very confident that Clare will also have their football championship wrapped up in time for the provincial championship action.”