Tipperary fans forced to choose after Munster fixtures confirmed
Tipperary supporters look set to have a decision to make on Sunday 3rd June after the Munster Council confirmed dates and times for the upcoming senior hurling & football championships.
The new format in the hurling championship will see five rounds of games played on consecutive weekends but provides a likely headache for Tipperary fans on the June Bank Holiday Sunday as the hurlers and footballers are likely to be playing on the same day, but in separate venues, 60 miles apart.
With the Tipperary footballers expected to get past Waterford in their quarter final on 19th June, their home semi-final against Cork has been pencilled in for Sunday 3rd June at Semple Stadium at 2.00pm, just two fours before the senior hurlers play Waterford in Walsh Park in their third round-robin game at 4.00pm.
There was always going to be a potential clash that weekend with the provincial football semi-finals scheduled. The Cork v Limerick hurling championship game that weekend was forced to be moved to Saturday 2nd June due to the Cork City Marathon taking place on Sunday 3rd June.
The Munster Council could have chosen to play the Waterford v Tipperary hurling match on the Saturday also but RTE have chosen that game for live coverage on The Sunday Game, therefore leading to the Tipperary hurlers and footballers being in action on the same day.
The provincial council are likely to have taken into account that only a limited number of Tipperary hurling fans would be able to get tickets for the 12,000 capacity Walsh Park, and those that do miss out, can take in the football semi-final in Thurles. The 4.00pm throw-in for the Waterford v Tipperary hurling match also indicates it will be live on television, which opens the possibility of being able to show the game afterwards in the Dome at Semple Stadium, or on a big screen at the venue, following the football.
The Tipperary senior hurlers will begin their Munster Championship campaign on Sunday, 20th May against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds with a 2.00pm. The following Sunday, at the same time, Tipperary host Cork at Semple Stadium and they wrap up their schedule against Clare on Sunday 10th June, also at 2.00pm at Semple Stadium.
All hurling games will be preceded by the minor championship game between the same counties, throwing in two hours earlier.
Munster Championship Fixtures
Senior Hurling
Sunday 20th May: Limerick v Tipperary (Gaelic Grounds, 2.00pm); Cork v Clare (Pairc Ui Chaoimh 4.00pm)
Sunday 27th May: Tipperary v Cork (Semple Stadium 2.00pm); Clare v Waterford (Cusack Park 3.30pm)
Saturday 2nd June: Cork v Limerick (Pairc Ui Chaoimh 7.00pm)
Sunday 3rd June: Waterford v Tipperary (Walsh Park 4.00pm)
Sunday 10th June: Tipperary v Clare (Semple Stadium 2.00pm); Limerick v Waterford (Gaelic Grounds, 2.00pm)
Sunday 17th June: Clare v Limerick (Cusack Park, 2.00pm); Waterford v Cork (Walsh Park, 2.00pm)
Sunday 1st July: Final at 2.00pm
Senior Football
Quarter Finals: Saturday 19th June: Clare v Limerick (Cusack Park, 7.00pm); Tipperary v Waterford (Semple Stadium 7.00pm)
Semi-Finals: Saturday 2nd June: Kerry v Clare or Limerick (Fitzgerald Stadium 7.00pm)
Sunday 3rd June: Tipperary or Waterford v Cork (Semple Stadium or Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 2.00pm)
Final: Saturday 23rd June (7.00pm)
Under 21 Hurling
Quarter Final: Wednesday 9th May: Clare v Limerick (Cusack Park, 7.00pm)
Semi-Finals: Wednesday 20th June: Cork v Waterford (Pairc Ui Rinn, 7.30pm)
Thursday 21st June: Tipperary v Clare or Limerick (Semple Stadium, 7.30pm)
Final: Wednesday 4th July (7.30pm)
Under 20 Football
Quarter Finals: Friday 15th June: Cork v Tipperary (Pairc Ui Rinn 7.30pm); Limerick v Kerry (Gaelic Grounds 7.30pm)
Semi-Finals: Friday 22nd June: Clare v Cork or Tipperary (Pairc Ui Rinn/Cusack Park 7.30pm); Waterford v Limerick or Kerry (Dungarvan/Tralee 7.30pm)
Final: Friday 29th June (7.30pm)
Minor Hurling
Sunday 20th May: Limerick v Tipperary (Gaelic Grounds, 12.00pm); Cork v Clare (Pairc Ui Chaoimh 2.00pm)
Sunday 27th May: Tipperary v Cork (Semple Stadium 12.00pm); Clare v Waterford (Cusack Park 1.30pm)
Saturday 2nd June: Cork v Limerick (Pairc Ui Chaoimh 5.00pm)
Sunday 3rd June: Waterford v Tipperary (Walsh Park 2.00pm)
Sunday 10th June: Tipperary v Clare (Semple Stadium 12.00pm); Limerick v Waterford (Gaelic Grounds, 12.00pm)
Sunday 17th June: Clare v Limerick (Cusack Park, 12.00pm); Waterford v Cork (Walsh Park, 12.00pm)
Sunday 1st July: Final at 12.00pm
Minor Football
Quarter Finals
Wednesday 11th April: Clare v Limerick (Cusack Park 6.30pm); Cork v Waterford (Pairc Ui Rinn 7.00pm); Tipperary v Kerry (Semple Stadium 7.00pm)
Playoffs
Wednesday 18th April: Loser of Tipperary/Kerry v Loser of Clare/Limerick (6.30pm)
Wednesday 25th April: Winner of Playoff 1 v Loser of Cork/Waterford (6.45pm)
Semi-Finals
Tuesday 8th May: Winner of Cork/Waterford v Winner of Kerry/Tipperary (7.00pm); Winner of Clare/Limerick v Playoff winner (7.00pm)
Final: Saturday 23rd June (4.30pm