GAA set to confirm times and venues Fixtures clash

GAELIC GAMES/Fixtures Clash: The times and venues for six Allianz National League matches are still undecided because of problems in accommodating the first dual weekend of football and hurling this season.

The GAA's Games Administration Committee re-examined the possibilities at their meeting in Croke Park last night and hope to be in a position to confirm the remaining fixtures later today.

In most cases the county grounds are already booked for either football or hurling, but there have also been problems with waterlogged pitches and clashes with the Sigerson Cup.

Two double bills on Sunday are already confirmed for Parnell Park and Portlaoise, and there are likely to be three other double bills in Clones, Wexford Park and Mullingar.

The three football games where times and venues are still to be confirmed are Wexford against Tipperary and Monaghan against Waterford (both Division 2B), as well as Westmeath against London (Division 2A).

In hurling, the times and venues for Wexford against Cork (Division 1A), Westmeath against Down (Division 2A) and Monaghan against Cavan (Division 3B) are also undecided.

It appears most likely that the Wexford-Cork hurling game and Wexford-Tipperary football game will be a double bill in Wexford Park.

Similarly, Westmeath-London in football and Westmeath-Down in hurling is likely to be played in Mullingar, with Monaghan-Waterford in football and Monaghan-Cavan in hurling to be played at Clones.

"The big problem with any double bill is the impact it has on throw-in times," said the GAA's Danny Lynch yesterday.

"At this time of the year that means earlier start times, which may not always be possible. Then there is the decision whether or not the doublebill would be better suited to the Saturday than the Sunday."