Limerick's league opener moved to Semple Stadium 

A general view of FBD Semple Stadium. Pic: Stephen McCarthy, Sportsfile

Limerick’s opening Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B game against Antrim has been moved to FBD Semple Stadium.

A request to switch Sunday week’s game to the Thurles venue has been granted by the Central Competition Control Committee as TUS Gaelic Grounds’ playing surface undergoes remedial work.

Semple Stadium is available that weekend as Tipperary’s hurlers meet Dublin in Parnell Park on Saturday, while their footballers travel to face Longford in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park the following afternoon.

Limerick travel to face Westmeath in Mullingar on February 11 and take on Dublin in Croke Park on February 24 before they return to face Tipperary in TUS Gaelic Grounds for a live televised fourth round game on Saturday, March 9.

Their final round clash with Galway on St Patrick’s Day weekend (Saturday, March 16) is also expected to be staged at their Ennis Road home. 

Limerick’s footballers Allianz Football League Division 3 Round 1 fixture with Antrim this Sunday goes ahead in Rathkeale’s Mick Neville Park.

Limerick will also be appearing in Semple Stadium this Sunday when they face Tipperary in a pre-league challenge game in aid of the Dillon Quirke Foundation. Both teams will wear special jerseys for the charity match and it is hoped the event can help them break the €1 million in monies raised for cardiac screening of young people.

After three aborted attempts to stage the game, Limerick's Munster Senior Hurling League game with Cork as well as the final where Waterford were awaiting the winners was cancelled.

As reconstruction work continues on St Conleth’s Park, Kildare’s footballers entertain Cavan in their Allianz FL Division 1 opener in Carlow’s Netwatch Cullen Park this Sunday.

Last year, Waterford hurlers’ home match against Kilkenny was moved to their neighbours’ UPMC Nowlan Park as Walsh Park was being redeveloped. Their two Munster SHC home matches against Limerick and Clare were also staged in Thurles.