League holders and All-Ireland champions Tipperary have been drawn against old rivals Cork in next Sunday's semi-finals of the National Hurling League. In the other match, Kilkenny will play Limerick. The semi-finals will be played at separate venues, which will disappoint those who had hoped to see a double bill.
Tipperary travel to Páirc Uí Chaoimh only a fortnight after their last match there, when they defeated the home side to secure a place in the play-offs. The reason for the swift return is that an alternating agreement exists between the counties, and the last time the counties met at this stage of the league, almost exactly eight years ago, the match was in Thurles. The other semi-final will be played in Limerick, as Kilkenny staged the most recent semi-final between the counties, in 1997.
Among other venue decisions taken by the Games Administration Committee last night were the confirmation of Clones as the venue for the all-Ulster NFL Division One final between Cavan and Tyrone.
The Division Two final has been separated from the senior decider, with Laois and Kerry meeting in Limerick.
It is believed that Kerry were prepared to travel to Clones had Armagh been their opponents, but after Laois's surprise win on Sunday, it made no sense to bring both teams so far out of their way.
Word from Galway suggests that Mark Kerins is considering his position on the county hurling panel. The brother of Alan, who was controversially dropped from the panel last week for refusing to abandon his place in the Galway football set-up, he was named in the starting line-up for last Sunday's league semi-final against Tipperary.
But on the day he never made an appearance at Semple Stadium, with manager Noel Lane explaining that the player had been feeling unwell. Although the absence was closely connected to the controversy surrounding his brother, it is understood that Mark Kerins concurs with his manager's statement.
Speculation has been triggered in Meath that retired centrefielder John McDermott is considering a comeback. He travelled to the weekend's league Division Two semi-final defeat by Kerry with team sponsors Kepak, and visited the dressing-room afterwards.
County PRO Brendan Cummins damped down the rumours last night.
"I think that a lot of people have looked at his presence in Limerick and added two and two and got five," he said. "I can't say for definite that John won't play again, but as far as we're concerned John is staying retired. I'd love to be proved wrong on this, because he's playing well for Skryne, but I don't think so."
Were McDermott to consider another comeback he'd give Frank Sinatra a bad name. Before last year's championship he announced his retirement and publicly explained his decision. During Meath's run to last September's All-Ireland final, he changed his mind and returned. After defeat by Galway, he again stepped down.
Tyrone footballers Stephen O'Neill and Ciaran Meenagh were both carried off after sustaining injuries in club games on Sunday evening. It's not yet clear how serious their condition is, but after the county's emphatic win over holders Mayo, joint Tyrone manager Eugene McKenna had criticised the decision to fix league games for the same day as last weekend's semi-final, which compelled his men to play two games in one day.
Finally, other venues decided last night were: Newbridge at 1.30 for the NHL Division Two semi-final between Kerry and Antrim, with the Leinster under-21 football final between Dublin and Wicklow to follow at 3.0; Navan for the other Division Two semi-final between Down and Laois.
The All-Ireland schools semi-final replay between Colásite Sceilg and St Jarlath's will be played as a curtain-raiser to the Limerick-Kilkenny NHL semi-final in the Gaelic Grounds, the same venue as last Sunday's fine praised drawn encounter.
National Hurling League Semi-finals
Cork v Tipperary
Páirc Uí Chaoimh 3.30
Kilkenny v Limerick
Gaelic Grounds 3.15
