Cork's Munster SHC tie with Clare has been switched to FBD Semple Stadium, while the fixture will also take place two weeks earlier than scheduled.
The tie will now be played on the weekend of April30/May 1 in Thurles, with Páirc Uí Chaoimh out of commission due to the Ed Sheeran concerts taking place there at the end of April.
Even if the game retained its original date of May 15, the pitch would still not have been ready in time after staging the gigs and the change of date also means that Cork won’t have to play on three successive weekends, which will at least be some source of consolation for manager Kieran Kingston.
Nearby Páirc Uí Rinn was an alternative venue but its capacity would fall well short of the demand for the game, with a Cork statement saying that moving to Thurles “will allow us to meet the demand for tickets from all Cork supporters”.
Cork won’t be giving up home advantage for their Munster football semi-final against Kerry on May 7, however, with that game remaining in Páirc Uí Rinn.
The county board has been criticised for allowing concerts to force their flagship teams to move from their main ground elsewhere to play elsewhere during peak season but the statement added that “the management of both the hurling and football teams have been consulted throughout the process of arranging the fixtures, and Cork GAA would like to thank them for their support”.
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