Tipperary v Offaly Football League clash goes ahead this Saturday

By Shane Brophy

What should have been a homecoming of sorts for Liam Kearns to Semple Stadium this Saturday will instead be a sombre occasion as the former Tipperary manager will be on everyone’s mind when his Offaly charges take to the field for what is a crucial penultimate round game in National Football League Division 3.

It is sure to be an occasion of high emotion as his Offaly team, whom he took training with on Sunday morning, just hours before he died, line out for the first time. The game will go ahead as scheduled this Saturday but at the earlier time of 2.00pm following a request from the Offaly team, which was granted by Tipperary.

With the game now avoiding a direct clash with the Ireland v England rugby game later that evening, it provides an opportunity for more people to be in Semple Stadium and remember Liam Kearns in the most appropriate way possible, watching a game of football.

It is also a key game for both sides with Tipperary needing a win in their battle against promotion while Offaly still have a chance of being promoted to division 2 if they win their last two games and get other results to go their way.