Novel hurling league fixture is set to take place in Thurles with Limerick the 'home' team

The famed sod of FBD Semple Stadium will host a plethora of games over the coming weeks with Limerick’s first Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B game of the new season against Antrim now fixed for the Cathedral town.

This coming Saturday evening (6pm) Tipperary footballers take on Carlow in their opening league fixture of Division 4 then, less than 24 hours later, the Tipperary hurlers will play Limerick in a challenge game in aid of the Dillon Quirke Foundation where unique Foundation jerseys will be worn for the charity game.

The weather has been playing havoc with fixtures and venues in the province as the Munster Senior Hurling League was called off completely for this year owing to frozen pitches, fog and storms.

The Central Competition Control Committee granted Limerick's request to play their league game in Thurles against Antrim the following week because the TUS Gaelic Grounds field is currently being prepared for the new season with some remedial work taking place on the sod.

The iconic venue is "free" that weekend as the Tipperary flagship teams are "away" with the Tipperary hurlers playing Dublin in Parnell Park on Saturday before the footballers take on Longford at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on that Sunday afternoon.

The issue isn't arising for the Limerick footballers as their Allianz Football League Division 3 Round 1 fixture against Antrim on Sunday afternoon will be played at Rathkeale’s Mick Neville Park.