Tipperary nominate league venues

With Thurles' Semple Stadium out of commission until April, Tipperary County Board has provisionally nominated Ardfinnan, Nenagh and Templemore as their home venues for the 2007 national leagues.

Semple Stadium is closed due to ongoing refurbishment, so Tipp's footballers and hurlers are due to stage their league fixtures at the following venues:

February 4 - Tipperary (football) v Sligo, Ardfinnan

February 18 - Tipperary (hurling) v Limerick, Nenagh

February 25 - Tipperary (football) v Cavan, Ardfinnan

March 18 - Tipperary (hurling) v Antrim, Templemore

March 25 - Tipperary (football) v Waterford, Ardfinnan

April 1 - Tipperary (football) v Wicklow, Ardfinnan; Tipperary (hurling) v Dublin, Nenagh

These venues are subject to confirmation from Croke Park.

Meanwhile, Sunday week will mark John Owens' first competitive game in charge of the Tipperary senior footballers.

The first round of the McGrath Cup will pit the Premier county against the winners of this Sunday's preliminary round tie between Limerick and the Institute of Technology Tralee. Ardfinnan (throw-in 2pm) will be the venue for the January 14 clash.

Babs Keating's Tipp hurlers will also make their first appearance of 2007 on January 14 when they take on the University of Limerick in the preliminary round of the Waterford Crystal Cup (MacDonagh Park, Nenagh, 2pm).