Ulster GAA have announced that the Ulster Senior Hurling Final between Antrim and Down will not now take place on Sunday 3 November 2013.
The move eases the fear of a clash of dates for the Antrim and Down players with the Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling international between Scotland and Ireland with the first test taking place at Croke Park on Saturday 26 October 2013 and the return meeting set for the Bught Park a week later.
An Ulster GAA spokesman said, "At last week’s Comhairle Uladh CCC meeting the Ulster Senior Hurling Final between Aontroim and An Dun was discussed again. Following correspondence received from the Antrim GAA County Committee on the same day, Comhairle Uladh CCC decided not to proceed with the fixture of the final as previously planned for Sunday 3 November 2013. While it is extremely regrettable that we are unable to proceed with the fixture at this time, the CCC remains committed to playing the Ulster Senior Hurling Final in due course. "There will be no further comment on this matter at this time."
The final was originally meant to have been played on Sunday 7 July 2013. However a semi-final replay between Down and Derry delayed the final until Sunday 14 July 2013. Down were unable to play on the new date so it was decided to further delay the final until later in the year and the November date was set last month.