The new fixture master plan for the GAA football championship is set to get underway in just under a month but Tipperary boss Liam Kearns is already foreseeing a major issue with the schedule facing his side.
On May 19, Tipperary play Waterford in the Munster quarter-final with the winner facing Cork in the semi-final. That game has moved back a week and been set for May 26 due to Waterford and Tipperary playing in the hurling championship on June 2. According to the Irish Independent, the following weekend and bank holiday Monday were unacceptable to the counties.
'We're not asking for anything other than to be treated the same as other counties. Also, if we beat Waterford, and that's a big if, then we will be playing Cork and an advantage has been conferred on them' Kearns told the Irish Independent.
We are now the only team in the country being asked to play two provincial football matches in seven days, if the situation arises. The Competition Controls Committee, the very name suggests that their very function is to protect the integrity of the competition and, in my view, this decision has blatantly failed to do that.
The Munster final is currently fixed for June 23rd, earlier than last year's July date which has resulted in the fixtures being condensed.
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