Limerick may request fixtures change

No one quite predicted that Limerick would be facing a fixtures conflict in the coming weeks. However, should the senior hurlers come through their National Hurling League semi-final with Tipperary on Sunday, then the county board will be looking for an alternative schedule.

Victory for the under-21 footballers in Portlaoise on Wednesday has put them into an All-Ireland final for the first time - a game set for Saturday May 13th. And the senior hurlers, should they beat Tipperary, will play the league final the following day.

Both Brian Begley and Brian Geary again proved pivotal in the historic win over the under-21 title holders Westmeath and they've had equally effective roles with the senior hurlers over the last few months. Stephen Lucey, centre back with the footballers, has also been a regular substitute with the hurlers.

The dual status of these players was the reason that the under-21 game was rescheduled from Saturday to last Wednesday in the first place. It is expected that the Games Administration Committee will sanction a similar request if the scenario does arise, but there is added complication in that both games are due to be televised live by RTE. Bringing forward the football final by a few days appears the most likely outcome.

Further congestion has already been avoided. The senior football side - also under the direction of under-21 manager Liam Kearins - were due to open their championship against Cork on May 14th, but that game had an alternative date should either the footballers or hurlers reach their respective finals. It will now be played on Saturday the May 20th at the Gaelic Grounds.

Sunday's affair in Thurles is sure to be the biggest test so far for Eamonn Cregan's revamped Limerick side, despite hints that this is a game which title holders Tipperary don't want to win.

Cregan will at least be reassured that both Begley and Geary came through the under-21 encounter unscathed. Begley - all six foot four of him - dominated Limerick's attack and he'll start again in the full forward position on Sunday. Geary will play at wing back rather than corner back.

Both players were also booked in the first half of what was an extremely physical encounter on Wednesday. But for Kearins, who stepped into the manager's role six months ago, it was the first indication of the better days ahead.

Nine of the under-21 players are also on his senior panel and while a senior Munster title is still someway out of reach, who knows when that might change. The other under-21 semi-final between Galway and Tyrone will be decided tomorrow in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Galway (U-21F v Tyrone) - P Lally; M Comer, B Dooney, K Collins; D Burke, E McDonagh, J Lardner; J Bergin, K Fitzgerald; K Naughton, D Tierney, K Comer; D Hanley, A Monaghan, A O'Donovan.

Kerry (SH v Derry): O Thornton; M Lucid, M McCarthy, A Cronin; WJ Leen, I Brick, P Cronin; K O'Sullivan, D Slattery; J Maher, A Begley, T O'Halloran; C Walsh, JJ Canty, S Morris.