Meanwhile, Munster’s Liam MacCarthy Cup counties have agreed to jettison the home-away or away-home sequencing of their provincial round-robin senior hurling championship. While the measure ensures no team will play three weekends running, it also means counties will take turns playing back-to-back games at home and away.
As a result of an agreement with Cork and the Munster Council due to the unavailability of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Clare began this year’s competition with technically two away games in FBD Semple Stadium against Tipperary and Cork. They concluded their campaign with the visits of Limerick and Waterford to Cusack Park.
In 2023, Tipperary are set to begin their championship with successive away games against Clare and Cork in Round 1 and 3 – they are scheduled to have a bye in Round 2. They will complete their campaign with the hosting of Limerick and Waterford.
In reverse, Cork will look to get points on the board early on home soil. Following a rest in the opening round, they welcome Waterford and Tipperary to Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Rounds 2 and 3 respectively.
Cork’s second break weekend is due to occur in the second weekend of Round 3, the only round of the competition which is split over two weekends, when Waterford and Clare face off in Walsh Park if it is available in the first phase of its reconstruction.
The Waterford-Clare game is played on a different weekend to avoid the Déise and the Banner playing three weekends in a row. Clare conclude their fixtures in Round 4 and are not involved in the final round while Waterford have a bye in Round 4.
All-Ireland champions will have a break of 20 or 21 days between their Round 2 clash with Clare and heading to face Tipp in Thurles in Round 4. Waterford had a similar gap this past season.
Provisional 2023 Munster senior hurling championship schedule: Round 1: Clare v Tipperary, Waterford v Limerick. Round 2: Cork v Waterford, Limerick v Clare. Round 3 (separate weekends in chronological order): Cork v Tipperary, Waterford v Clare. Round 4: Clare v Cork, Tipperary v Limerick. Round 5: Limerick v Cork, Tipperary v Waterford.