Leinster Council came to the decision at a meeting on Monday night following the abandonmnent of the sides' original clash last Sunday just three minutes in to the second half because of the deplorable weather conditions.

And because the game is a re-fixture and not a replay, the game will take place in Portlaoise with a 2.15pm throw-in. Admission will be free.
The knock-on effect of that is Leinster Council's decision to switch Sunday's Leinster Club SHC final between Ballyhale Shamrocks and Tullamore to Tullamore's O'Connor Park, as the well-grounded feeling is that O'Moore Park wouldn't be fit to host two games in such quick succession.
Last Sunday's game was called off early in the second half when Meath referee Joe Curley deemed that the conditions were no longer playable. While rain fell heavily all through the first half, the pitch held up reasonably well and it was only after an even stronger shower at the break that things deteriorated.

Curley consulted with both teams and his match officials at the start of the second half but decided to resume the game with the proviso if things got any worse, he'd call a halt to proceedings. And that's exactly what he did as the players found it almost impossible to stay standing and the surface water lying on the pitch made it unsafe to continue.

At the time Clara had just moved in to a 1-5 to 0-7 lead and had the backing of the wind for the second half but there were no complaints with Curley's decision to call off the game.

Speaking after the game, Portlaoise manager John Mulligan said that the safety of players was the most important thing. "The referee did the right thing because it was very, very dangerous there," said Mulligan. "We didn't realise at half time how much rain had fallen but the pitch was completely different in the second half.


"As Roy Keane says, we just have to get on with it. I didn't see a problem with the pitch when the game started. That's one of the best pitches in the country, you can't blame anyone. It's another day and we'll have to start from scratch now again."

Clara boss Pat Flanagan was of a similar view. "I think for the safety of the players it was vital that the referee made a decision," he added. "From the stand, the pitch didn't look as bad as it was but when you were out there it was very poor under foot. The referee said it to me at half time that he'd give it a go and if it got any worse, he would pull it. Somebody could have got hurt in those conditions so the safety of the players is paramount."

Should Portlaoise win then they will face Westmeath champions Garycastle in the final the following Sunday, December 6. That game will take place at a neutral venuse, which has yet to be announced.
Despite Clara's impressive showing, they still remain as complete outsiders at a price of 5/2 with Portlaoise at 2/5. Portlaoise are also still favourites for Leinster glory at 8/11 with Garycastle, who shocked Dublin champions Ballyboden-St Enda's on Sunday, priced at 13/8 and Clara at 11/2. Portlaoise are also still favourites for the All Ireland at 3/1 ahead of St Gall's (Antrim), Corofin (Galway) and Kerin's O'Rahilly's (Kerry).