Ken Hogan Tipperary Manager
The GAA All-Ireland Under 21 Hurling Championship final between Tipperary and Galway will go ahead as originally planned at Semple Stadium on Saturday evening with the throw-in at 7.00pm.
The decision of the GAA‘s Central Competitions Control Committee to fix the game for the Thurles venue had drawn major opposition from Galway GAA officials.
Galway Hurling Board Chairman, Mr Joe Byrne had argued that it was unfair to have to take on Tipperary in their home venue.
However the GAA decided not to budge on their original decision and last night’s expected emergency meeting of Galway clubs to discuss the matter, did not taking place following Galway’s Hurling Board agreement to play the game at the original chosen venue.
This eagerly anticipated weekend’s clash will marks the first All-Ireland U-21 hurling decider between both counties since 1983. Tipperary last won a senior and an Under-21 All-Ireland double in 1989 and no less than eight players, who were part of last Sunday’s victorious Tipperary senior panel are now set to be take to the pitch for this final. These players are Padraic Maher, Patrick Maher, Brendan Maher, Michael Cahill, Noel McGrath, Seamus Hennessy, Michael Heffernan and Brian O’Meara.
It emerged on Tuesday that Tipperary will now be without full back John Coghlan (Moyne-Templetuohy) for Saturday’s game, after his yellow card against Antrim in the semi-final on August 21st was upgraded to a red by the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee. However, Coghlan is entitled to a personal hearing this week and may have that rather surprising decision overturned.
Leave a Reply