*Action from the first round clash between Corofin/Ruan and Clarecastle. Photograph: Chris Copley
U21A hurling semi-finals are provisionally fixed to take place this coming Sunday while the semi-finals in the U21A football championship have been delayed by a week.
At a meeting of the CCCC on Monday, officers referred to the weather forecasts from Met Éireann which anticipate a change in the weather by the weekend as they expressed hopes games would go ahead uninterrupted.
Frosted pitches, fog and road safety were among the reasons which caused the games to be postponed over the weekend.
Semi-finals in the U21A hurling championship are now down for decision on Sunday with 1pm the start time for both contests, Scariff/Ogonnelloe face off with Clarecastle in Dr Daly Park, Tulla while Tubber hosts the meeting of Corofin/Ruan and Inagh/Kilnamona.
Agreement has been reached by both Kilmaley and Broadford to play the U21B hurling final this Saturday. A time of 1:30pm has been confirmed for the tie which will take place in Clarecastle.
The Clare Echo understands that the University of Limerick will be available as a back-up pitch in the event of venues failing pitch inspections.
Originally intended to take place on Tuesday of this week, the U21A football semi-finals have been pushed back by seven days. Venues remain the same for the penultimate clashes with reigning champions Cill Cúil Gaels squaring off with Corofin in Gurteen while St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield face off with Ennistymon in Cooraclare. 7:30pm is the start time for the semi-finals.
By Sunday evening, the finalists in the U21B football championship should be known. Banner and Kilmurry Ibrickane go toe to toe in Pairc Finne, Corofin while Cooraclare hosts the meeting of neighbours Lissycasey at Clondegad, these semi-finals have a throw-in time of 1pm.
An appeal by Corofin/Ruan over the granting of a result to Scariff/Ogonnelloe in their U21C2 hurling quarter-final was successful. Their initial appeal was rejected by Clare GAA but they took the matter to the Munster Council who referred the matter to the Clare Hearings Committee who decided to reinstate the North Clare amalgamation to the competition.
It will add to a spicy meeting between the sides on Saturday in Dr Stuart Park, Ogonnelloe at 1:30pm with the winner advancing to the semi-finals versus Sixmilebridge. The other semi-final will take place this weekend with Inagh/Kilnamona and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield in action from 1:30pm in Ballyea.
Action will be on Sunday for the U21C1 hurling semi-finals. O’Callaghans Mills and Cratloe meet in Meelick while Whitegate and Parteen/Meelick play each other in Broadford, the throw-in time is 1:30pm for these games.
Plans to have all finals finished before Christmas met a major stumbling block with the cancellation of games last weekend. No provisional date has been set for the U21A football final which as officials are awaiting to see if there will be a dual involvement, should Corofin dethrone Cill Cúil Gaels the final will definitely not be held before December 25th.
Provisionally, the U21A hurling final will be played on December 23rd with the U21B football and U21C1 hurling finals taking place on December 22nd.
