Tipperary have home advantage for Munster showdown with Waterford

The Munster Council have named Semple Stadium as the venue for their hurling final between Waterford and Tipperary on July 12th.

Despite the availability of Fitzgerald Stadium (capacity: 43,180) in Killarney and Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds (49,866), the Munster CCC felt Thurles (53,500) to be the most suitable venue, despite giving Tipperary hope advantage. The revamped Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork is under construction.

The decision was made easier by Waterford having no objection.

"Thurles is fine with us," said Waterford County Board secretary Tim O'Keeffe. "Sure, if we were to play in Limerick you have to drive through Tipperary to get there so you might as well go to Dublin. We have no issue playing the Munster final in Semple."

Waterford, beaten by Tipp in the 2011 and 2012 finals, both in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, were crowned champions the last time the provincial decider was played in Thurles in 2010, when they beat Cork in a replay. Not that this is a new departure as Tipperary beat Waterford at Semple in the 2009 final.

Meanwhile, Colm Galvin could come straight back into the Clare team to face Offaly in the All-Ireland qualifier on Saturday week in Ennis (7pm).

The 2013 All Star midfielder left Davy Fitzgerald’s panel in April to travel to Boston where he continued hurling for the Tipperary club, who he helped win the Sheehan Cup earlier this month.

Patrick Donnellan and Shane Golden were Clare’s named centre fielders ahead of the one point defeat to Limerick in the Munster quarter-final on May 24th but Patrick O’Connor and Gearóid O’Connell actually lined up for the throw in.

“Ahead of his departure to the US, the management team assured Colm that the door would remain open for his return to the squad should he decide to come home over the course of the summer,” said Fitzgerald in a statement released by Dunphy PR.

“During the past couple of weeks Colm expressed his desire to return and through regular communication with his father Kevin, we were only too delighted to invite him to rejoin the squad.

Resume training

“Colm is an exceptionally talented hurler and had been a key figure in the Clare side up to his departure following the league in April. He will resume training with the rest of the panel this week.

“Pending match fitness, I expect that Colm will be part of the match day panel in next week’s qualifier tie. In the meantime, the management and players are delighted to welcome him back into the fold.”

Jack O’Connor has been confirmed as Kerry U-21 football manager for the next two seasons, succeeding Darragh Ó Sé. O’Connor, who led the Kerry minors to an All-Ireland title last year, previously served as a selector when the U-21s won the All-Ireland in 1995 and as manager for the 1996 and 1998 All-Ireland wins.

In two stints as Kerry’s senior manager he helped the Kingdom win on three occasions – 2004, 2006 and 2009.