Galway hurling chief Joe Byrne has asked the management committee of the GAA to move the All-Ireland U21HC final to a neutral venue in the interest of fairness.

Galway are set to take on Tipperary in Thurles next Saturday week in the decider after Croke Park confirmed on Monday that the game would go ahead at Semple Stadium, despite the host county being in the final.

"We are asking the management committee to reconsider the decision and to move the game to a neutral venue," Byrne commented yesterday.

"We feel it is very unfair on us to have to go and take Tipperary on not only in their home venue, but where they train. We have nothing against the venue and Galway teams have always enjoyed playing in Semple Stadium, but it is an entirely different matter taking on Tipperary there in an All-Ireland final.

"It is very disheartening, especially after making representations, that the game has been fixed for Thurles, not least as there are plenty of neutral venues such as Limerick, Portlaoise and Tullamore, some of which have floodlights as well.

"We are very disappointed by this and are looking for the powers that be to see common sense and play this game at a neutral venue." Tweet

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