Tipp and Limerick make venue agreement
Limerick and Tipperary have reached a new "home and away" agreement for Munster hurling championship first round and semi-final games as well as All-Ireland qualifiers.
The agreement will come into effect for Saturday week’s All-Ireland qualifier between the counties.
The venue for the big match, either The Gaelic Grounds or Semple Stadium, will be decided by the toss of a coin.
The throw-in time and the venue was due to be officially announced by the Games Administration Committee (GAC) of the GAA later on this afternoon.
The previous "home and away" arrangement between Limerick and Tipperary ended after the drawn and replayed Munster hurling finals in 1996.
Limerick had difficulties in agreeing a "home and away" arrangement with Tipp for the past eight years because of the capacity of the Gaelic Grounds.
Hurling championship games between the counties were staged at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork during that spell.
However, with the newly revamped Ennis Road venue boasting a capacity of 49,000 such an arrangement was feasible.
Tipperary have defeated Limerick in their two most recent championship meetings — the 2001 Munster final and the following year’s provincial semi-final.
Tipperary also overcame Limerick in the Allianz National Hurling League earlier this year.
Meanwhile, the Limerick U-21 footballers take on Tipperary in the first round of the Munster championship on Wednesday night next in Fermoy.
The game has a 7.30pm throw-in time.
The winners’ of this tie will face Cork in the provincial semi-final on July 28.
