Big two go back to Cork

GAELIC GAMES: Pairc Uí Chaoimh will again be the venue for the Munster hurling championship meeting between Tipperary and Clare on May 18th. The Munster Council have confirmed their venues for the 2003 championship, with the two teams returning to the Cork venue for the sixth time in five years.

Having drawn each other in the opening rounds of the Munster championship for the fifth year in succession both Tipperary and Clare were eager for at least a change of scenery. But the options open to the Munster Council were limited, and in the end they had little choice but to settle on Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the quarter-final.

Clare secretary Pat Fitzgerald said: "There was a lot of consideration given to another venue, but the options just weren't there. The only real alternative was Killarney, but the fact is it would be very similar to Cork in terms of distance."

"Of course we are aware that people are getting a bit tired of the same venue. The Munster Council would be aware of that too, and that the attendance for the game did drop a bit last year. Cork is not the easiest of places to get in and out of and that will always be a factor."

The attendance for such an attractive game clearly took a hit last May with a crowd of just over 27,000. But with the redevelopment work at the Gaelic Grounds meaning that Limerick wouldn't be certain to be available in time, the only other option was for the counties to enter into a home-away agreement.

Normally a crowd of around 35,000 would be expected at such a game and next year's meeting is likely to come closer to that figure.

Whoever emerges this year will meet Cork, again in either Páirc Uí Chaoimh or Thurles. The other quarter-final, between Kerry and Waterford, will be played in Dungarvan, with the winners playing Limerick in either Limerick or Thurles.

In football, Munster champions Cork will also play their opening game, against Limerick, in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on May 25th. Waterford face Tipperary in the other quarter-final in Dungarvan.