Minor final for Nowlan Park

Following agreement from both Kilkenny and Tipperary to toss for home venue for the Electric Ireland GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship Final, the coin flip fell against the Premier County with the game fixed for UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday, 29th June with a 5.30pm start.

It was expected that the match would be played at a neutral venue, but Tipperary manager James Woodlock explained on Tipp FM’s Extra Time on Monday evening that the likely venue of O’Moore Park in Portlaoise wasn’t available as last Sunday’s football championship clash between Kerry and Louth was the last game it would be hosting for a period of time due to remedial work.

It would appear that Walsh Park in Waterford, which hosted Tipperary v Kilkenny All-Ireland Under 21 Hurling finals in the 1980’s, wasn’t deemed a suitable due to its limited 12,000 capacity.

It left the only option being a coin toss which fell on Kilkenny’s side but in the event of a future meeting between the sides in an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Final, the game shall be played at FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles.

However, minor finals between the two great rivals haven’t been frequent with this clash being the first in an All-Ireland Final since 2002.