Radical changes to calendar next year
The GAA Master Fixture schedule for 2020 has been published after it was approved by Ard Chomhairle last Saturday.
There are a number of notable changes to the fixture schedule from previous years.
Dates for the newly minted Tier 2 Football Championship have been included.
There are structural changes to Divisions 1A and 1B of the Allianz Hurling League.
The 2020 AIB All-Ireland Club Football and Hurling Semi-Finals and Finals will take place in January.
The 2020/2021 Club semi-finals will be played in December with the 2021 All-Ireland Club Finals being played in January 2021.
The Leinster Senior Football Championship Final will be played on a Saturday evening. This is part of a new rota agreed between Leinster and Munster for their Provincial Football Finals – in 2021 the Munster Final will be played on a Saturday.
There will be a five-week club window between the end of the Allianz Leagues and the commencement of the Championships.
The Pairings for Phases Two and Three of the All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Finals will be based out on the outcome of phase one. The winners of of the Phase One matches will play one another in Phase Two with the losing teams from Phase One Playing one another in Phase Two.
‘Winner on the Day’ competition regulations will be extended to the following games for 2020.
- All games in Tier 2 Football Championship (exception: final which would be winner on the day in a replay only)
- Ring and Rackard Cup Semi-finals & Relegation play offs
- Replays of Ring, Rackard and Meagher Finals
- Replays of All Ireland Club Championship semi-finals and finals
- Replays of U17 & U20 Football and Hurling Finals
- Replays of SHC Quarter and semi-finals
- Replays of All Ireland SFC semi-finals
The full Fixture list can be seen on the GAA website.
Locally..........Offaly footballers will start their Division Three campaign on Saturday the 25th January at 6pm in Pairc Ui Rinn against Cork.
Westmeath are in Division Two and will begin their League against Clare on Sunday January the 26th at TEG Cusack Park while Laois will travel to Dr Hyde Park to face Roscommon.
In Hurling Laois will start their Division one League season against Wexford at MW Hire O'Moore Park on Saturday 25th January.
Westmeath are also in Division One and they will travel to Pearse Stadium on Sunday 26th to face Galway.
Offaly are in Division 2B and will start their league against Meath in Birr on the same day.
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