A reprieve from the never-ending torrents and downpours that have saturated the League of of Ireland schedule since February has arrived. Finally.
For Cork City, their enforced four-week absence from Turner's Cross has come to an end. The club's Women's National League side return for a televised fixture against Treaty United on Saturday, while a Bank Holiday Monday evening date is set for Tim Clancy's charge's homecoming. Wexford provide the opposition.
First though, ironically on May 1, the opening day of summer, the Munster Youth Cup final between College Corinthians and Carrigaline United takes centrestage.
For those at the Munster Football Association, the decision to close their ground - in the aftermath of Cork City's home win over rivals Cobh Ramblers - was not an easy one, but a necessary one all the same.
"It's been a tough few weeks for us. We did something we didn't want to do, but we had to do," said Munster FA's Barry Cotter. "The pitch was in an unsafe condition. We just had to take the decision to try and let it recover. The upturn in weather has helped, but there's been an incredible amount of work done throughout last four weeks, and a lot of money invested.
"We're ready to open. 'Are we 100 percent there?' No, we're not, there's still a couple of areas that will need a bit of time, but from where we were four weeks ago, we're in a good place now.
"Going forward, we had to take that decision. It has benefitted no one; ourselves, Cork City - men's and women's teams - and the local leagues. At the end of the day, the Munster FA own this ground, and the leagues have lost out as well. There was probably eight or nine games that were supposed to be (played) here during the month of April."
The decision to
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