2021 GAA season.

Always_Running

GAA HQ set to approve compacted 2021 calendar.

- All pre-season fare has been stopped and competitions like the provincial hurling and football leagues, the Kehoe, Walsh, McKenna, O'Byrne, and McGrath Cups will not run

- Instead, next year will see the revised Allianz Leagues resume at the end of February.

- The Allianz Football League will commence at the end of February with each division expected to be split into two groups – with the split focusing on regionality and proximity. This is to cut down on travel and movement, tying in with public health protocols. Relegation could see the bottom two teams in each round-robin group playing off against each other to decide which two teams go down.

- The 2021 Tailteann Cup (B All-Ireland) will then feature teams placed in those bottom two tiers in the league.

- The hurling league is not expected to see much change.There will be two groups of six, but the group leaders may go straight to a final

- The All-Ireland championships will start from April. There will be no club-only period or Super 8 series this time around and the championships will continue until the third week in July when the All-Ireland football final will be played, with the hurling decider coming beforehand.

-The remainder of the year would facilitate club championships

benji79

Personally I think it’s great.

The club players are finally getting what they deserve. Amazing it took COVID to finally get a decent calendar in place

manofwisdom

How a regional 2021 Allianz Football Leagues may look according to the Irish examiner.

Division 1

Group North: Armagh, Donegal, Monaghan, Tyrone.

Group South: Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Roscommon.


Division 2

Group North: Down, Meath, Mayo, Westmeath.

Group South: Clare, Cork, Laois, Kildare.

Division 3

Group North: Cavan, Derry, Fermanagh, Longford.

Group South: Limerick, Offaly, Tipperary, Wicklow.

Division 4

Group North: Antrim, Leitrim, London, Sligo.

Group South: Louth, Carlow, Waterford, Wexford

breezy1985

I think division 2 will probably be East/West to keep the Leinster teams together. But keeping the NI teams together in the other divisions will probably be seen as a priority

Rolo2010

Are provincial groups going ahead for championship? Or will it still be a knockout format.

Could be seeing Dublin or Wexford heading up to Antrim or down to Kerry if they win the Joe McDonagh Cup. I suppose relegation could be decided by the 2 Leinster losers playing off in a qualifier game.

PTH2009

Crazy teams will be out of the championship by the 2nd/3rd week of May

Overall its a good calender and will take a while to get used too. I will always be a lover of the old calender and the AI finals in September but what can ya do

I did enjoy the coverage of the club games over the summer and hope it will continue. A little of that was the excitement of something new during the lockdown

KevinK

breezy1985 wrote: »

I think division 2 will probably be East/West to keep the Leinster teams together. But keeping the NI teams together in the other divisions will probably be seen as a priority

How would this work? Keeping the Leinster teams together would leave you with Meath, Westmeath, Laois and Kildare in one group, then Down, Clare, Mayo and Cork in the other. Cork to Down would literally be the longest possible Division 2 journey. I think north south divisions are much more likely and sensible.

Even adopting a stricter east-west division and putting Down in the east division doesn’t make much sense as now Westmeath would end up in the west side and have trips to Clare and Cork, whereas Laois and Kildare to Clare and Cork would be marginally smaller journeys.

gigantic09

Any word if London are to be included in the connaught championship?. Mayo are due to play them next year but given that any meeting would be in April not sure fans would be able to travel over at that stage.

blowitupref

A u-turn on 2021 season?

From the examiner

GAA weigh up staging club before inter-county season in 2021

Central Council discusses 'flipping' the seasons in 2021, with club played first

THE GAA won’t make a decision on the 2021 calendar until next month as they weigh up the possibility of commencing the club season before county.

It had been expected the county period would commence in late February with the Allianz Leagues based on split football divisions and the hurling competition remaining the same but for reduced knockout stages.

The Championship, based on the qualifier system, would then start in late April before finishing in July before the county club championships take place in late summer and earlier autumn.

However, GAA leaders may now recommend the exclusive club window precede county as there are doubts about meaningful crowds returning to games in the first half of 2021.

With the organisation making a variety of cuts and requiring a Government grant to stage the Championships, the issue of gate receipts is a considerable factor for the GAA. Delaying the inter-county season until such time as supporters can go to games in sizeable numbers may be required.

The Club Players Association have already backed the proposal to organise the county period before the club, although a number of prominent GAA figures such as Tipperary senior hurling manager Liam Sheedy have supported club going first.

Central Council today heard the latest on discussions between the GAA and GPA. It is expected that the fundraising dinners held by the official inter-county players' body in the US will now be a joint effort between the organisations with a portion of the money raised to be given to local GAA bodies.

Although there were some claims from counties that the changes to the under-age grades require a further vote, Croke Park officials that the uneven grades - U13, U15, U17 - are the primary levels now.


The GAA hopes to receive more information about when they can stage the outstanding U20 football final, the U20 hurling championship and both minor championships from the Government earlier next week.

breezy1985

Thinking of vaccines and possible fans I'd say

blowitupref

breezy1985 wrote: »

Thinking of vaccines and possible fans I'd say

Yes looks that way. Needed big grant money to get the inter County championships up and running this winter, the government may not be as generous next year.

recyclebin

Club championships for 2020 are not even finished yet. Laois had the three week lockdown in middle of theirs so are only at semi finals in the football. Are many other counties not finished yet?

Fr Tod Umptious

Regardless of whether it's club first or county first 2021 is going to be little more than as bridge year.

It will be at least this time next year that things will be back to normal with widespread vaccinations etc.

So 2021 will be a more planned version of 2020.

For Forks Sake

gigantic09 wrote: »

Any word if London are to be included in the connaught championship?. Mayo are due to play them next year but given that any meeting would be in April not sure fans would be able to travel over at that stage.

Given the UKs diabolical approach to Covid, they'll be doing well to let the team travel, let alone any supporters

PTH2009

I think the clubs starting me be the best option for 2021

Feb- June- clubs
July- Nov- Intercounty
Nov/Dec- Club prov and AI

Always_Running

Gaelic Football. National Leagues.

It is believed that the National Gaelic football leagues will start from Saturday February 27th and run until the league finals on Sunday April 4th. The four divisions will be split into two, North and South.

Division 1 North
Donegal, Tyrone, Monaghan, Armagh

Division 1 South
Kerry, Dublin, Roscommon, Galway

Division 2 North
Meath, Down, Mayo, Westmeath

Division 2 South
Clare, Cork, Laois, Kildare

Division 3 North
Derry, Fermanagh, Longford, Cavan

Division 3 South
Limerick, Wicklow, Offaly, Tipperary

Division 4 North
Leitrim, Louth, Antrim, Sligo

Division 4 South
Wexford, Carlow, Waterford, London*

---

Each team will play three group games, with a draw deciding which counties get two home games. The top two in each group progress to their respective league semi-finals. This will then be followed by a league final.

The bottom two teams in Division 1-3 will go into the relegation semi-finals with both losers moving down a division for 2022.

Bottom two teams in Division 4 will play a Shield semi-final and then final.

*London’s participation will be decided based on restrictions in 2021.



The 2021 inter-county senior football championship is scheduled start on 17-18 April.

Provincial championships followed by qualifiers will take place with no Super 8s, replaced instead by the old quarter-final knockout format.

Any team in Division 3 or 4 (outside Cavan and Tipperary) that do not reach their provincial finals will take part in the Tailteann Cup.

It is believed that the games will be knockout with semi-finals taking place as a double header in Croke Park on Sunday June 6th. The final will be curtain raiser to the All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final on June 26/27.

Hurling.
Hurling is believed to be following a similar format to normal years in the National Leagues with the counties split into Division 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b. The only difference being that there will be no quarter or semi-finals.

Championship will stay as a knock-out format with back-door qualifiers



County club season commences July 24th/25th

Mid October to the end of November for the provincial club championships

All Ireland club semi finals December 11/12

All Ireland club finals January 2021.

PTH2009

Always_Running wrote: »

Gaelic Football. National Leagues.

It is believed that the National Gaelic football leagues will start from Saturday February 27th and run until the league finals on Sunday April 4th. The four divisions will be split into two, North and South.

Division 1 North
Donegal, Tyrone, Monaghan, Armagh

Division 1 South
Kerry, Dublin, Roscommon, Galway

Division 2 North
Meath, Down, Mayo, Westmeath

Division 2 South
Clare, Cork, Laois, Kildare

Division 3 North
Derry, Fermanagh, Longford, Cavan

Division 3 South
Limerick, Wicklow, Offaly, Tipperary

Division 4 North
Leitrim, Louth, Antrim, Sligo

Division 4 South
Wexford, Carlow, Waterford, London*

---

Each team will play three group games, with a draw deciding which counties get two home games. The top two in each group progress to their respective league semi-finals. This will then be followed by a league final.

The bottom two teams in Division 1-3 will go into the relegation semi-finals with both losers moving down a division for 2022.

Bottom two teams in Division 4 will play a Shield semi-final and then final.

*London’s participation will be decided based on restrictions in 2021.



The 2021 inter-county senior football championship is scheduled start on 17-18 April.

Provincial championships followed by qualifiers will take place with no Super 8s, replaced instead by the old quarter-final knockout format.

Any team in Division 3 or 4 (outside Cavan and Tipperary) that do not reach their provincial finals will take part in the Tailteann Cup.

It is believed that the games will be knockout with semi-finals taking place as a double header in Croke Park on Sunday June 6th. The final will be curtain raiser to the All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final on June 26/27.

Hurling.
Hurling is believed to be following a similar format to normal years in the National Leagues with the counties split into Division 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b. The only difference being that there will be no quarter or semi-finals.

Championship will stay as a knock-out format with back-door qualifiers



County club season commences July 24th/25th

Mid October to the end of November for the provincial club championships

All Ireland club semi finals December 11/12

All Ireland club finals January 2021.

They could easily of done the club finals in the last week before Christmas in December (Triple headers for codes each day)

More of a traditionalits and not a fan of the early championships. Nothing I can do about it and look forward to the 2021 season

The Lost Sheep

PTH2009 wrote: »

I think the clubs starting me be the best option for 2021

Feb- June- clubs
July- Nov- Intercounty
Nov/Dec- Club prov and AI

Would clubs be happy with having a provincial/all ireland series months after winning county titles. No momentum from that etc

Still think having completely separate seasons shouldnt happen. Puts too much time given to a tiny number of players.
Play both at same time. Have club weekends only/county weekends only and proper sanctions for coaches who stop players lining out for clubs

PTH2009

So will Antrim face Laois in the Leinster QF and then the loser of that will play the Munster QF loser (which will be a big team) in the All Ireland Preliminary round Qualifier?. In a freak result a Munster team could be out of it in the PR ?

Coillte_Bhoy

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Would clubs be happy with having a provincial/all ireland series months after winning county titles. No momentum from that etc

Still think having completely separate seasons shouldnt happen. Puts too much time given to a tiny number of players.
Play both at same time. Have club weekends only/county weekends only and proper sanctions for coaches who stop players lining out for clubs

Never going to happen and too difficult to enforce imo

recyclebin

Did I read somewhere that they are going to let this years provincial winners (Tipperary and Cavan and Mayo) into All Ireland Qualifiers next year even if they don't get out of division 3 or get to a provincial final?

They seem to be making it up as they go along. It's much harder for a division 3 or 4 team to get to an Leinster or Ulster final compared to Munster or Connaught.

PTH2009

Will they redo the division 1 NHL groups to a regional one

Limerick, Galway, Clare, Westmeath, Dublin, Antrim

Waterford, Wexford,Tipp, Kilkenny, Cork,Laois

breezy1985

PTH2009 wrote: »

Will they redo the division 1 NHL groups to a regional one

Limerick, Galway, Clare, Westmeath, Dublin, Antrim

Waterford, Wexford,Tipp, Kilkenny, Cork,Laois

No its staying the same. Regional groups would practically be the provincial championship and doing north south is as bad as the current draw

NW_10

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Never going to happen and too difficult to enforce imo

And players wanted a split season so it should happen. We already had the April club month and it didn't work.

Great that they didn’t put club first. Could imagine how the likes of Davy Fitz would have treated it if they had inter county later in the year.

I hope that thing about the 2020 provincial winners isn’t true. It’s a new season and would be yet another “ah shut begorrah” load of ****e.

Coillte_Bhoy

NW_10 wrote: »

And players wanted a split season so it should happen. We already had the April club month and it didn't work.

I wasnt opposing a split season

BonnieSituation

PTH2009 wrote: »

So will Antrim face Laois in the Leinster QF and then the loser of that will play the Munster QF loser (which will be a big team) in the All Ireland Preliminary round Qualifier?. In a freak result a Munster team could be out of it in the PR ?

Nah. It's hurling. They'll be given a few chances to lose.

Always_Running

Irish independent published the NFL Div 1 fixtures.

South group

Round 1

Sunday May 16th

Roscommon v Dublin - Dr Hyde Park

Saturday May 15th
Kerry v Galway - Tralee

Sunday May 23rd
Galway v Roscommon - Pearse Stadium
Dublin v Kerry - (neutral venue likely Portlaoise)

Sunday May 30th
Roscommon v Kerry - Hyde Park
Galway v Dublin - Pearse Stadium

North group

Saturday May 15th
Tyrone v Donegal - Omagh 5pm

Sunday May 16th

Monaghan v Armagh - neutral venue

Sunday May 23rd

Donegal v Monaghan - Ballybofey
Armagh v Tyrone - Athletic Grounds,


Sunday May 30th
Armagh v Donegal - Athletic Grounds,
Monaghan V Tyrone - Clones

From the Irish Examiner


Like last year, it is envisaged all Allianz League games will either be televised, deferred, or streamed. Despite recently announcing their intentions to cease live sports broadcasting, eir Sport are committed to their contract for this year’s league. Due to their coverage of rugby’s PRO14 Rainbow Cup, they are expected to show more Saturday afternoon games. RTÉ and TG4 will again have live coverage of league matches.

A finalised list of league games’ dates, thrown-in times, and venues should be ready after this weekend but the release of them may be deferred until after the provincial senior championship launches on Monday and Tuesday.

The Munster competitions will be drawn on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland on Monday followed by the Connacht SFC on the Six One News that evening. The Leinster championships will be revealed on Tuesday morning and the Ulster SFC draw taking place that evening.

Match regulations for the leagues also have to be confirmed. The GAA’s Covid advisory body are also expected to provide updated protocols for senior inter-county teams in the coming days.

Responder XY

Have fixtures been published for any other divisions of the league or the Hurling? Or does anyone know when it will be?

breezy1985

Responder XY wrote: »

Have fixtures been published for any other divisions of the league or the Hurling? Or does anyone know when it will be?

Sure don't you know top tier football is all that counts

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.sportsnewsireland.com/gaa/2019-provisional-allianz-football-league-fixtures/&ved=2ahUKEwiiudbL-P3vAhUNUxUIHa-vARgQFjAFegQIEhAC&usg=AOvVaw1eGHLT5qI8D3ioLIHah_Jd

blowitupref

First of the football provincial draws done this morning (Munster)

Quarter finals

Clare v Kerry
Waterford v Limerick

Semi finals

Tipperary v Clare or Kerry
Cork v Waterford or Limerick

Connacht draw at 6pm tonight and Ulster, Leinster draws tomorrow

PTH2009

blowitupref wrote: »

First of the football provincial draws done this morning (Munster)

Quarter finals

Clare v Kerry
Waterford v Limerick

Semi finals

Tipperary v Clare or Kerry
Cork v Waterford or Limerick

Connacht draw at 6pm tonight and Ulster, Leinster draws tomorrow

Tricky draw for Kerry but they will be convulsions if there knocked out early again

secman

2 Pyrex dishes , no expense spared for Connaught draw

blowitupref

Connacht draw.

Quarter final Mayo v Sligo

Semi finals

Mayo or Sligo v Leitrim
Roscommon v Galway

What’s the idea behind doing them over multiple days?

breezy1985

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

What’s the idea behind doing them over multiple days?

Spread out the number of news bulletins and articles I assume.

Draw them all together and you only get 1 article in each paper or show on the radio

blowitupref

Leinster football draw

First round

Offaly v Louth

Wicklow v Wexford

Carlow v Longford


Quarter-finals

Kildare v Offaly or Louth

Dublin v Wicklow or Wexford

Laois v Westmeath

Meath v Carlow or Longford

ebbsy

Dublin v Wicklow or Wexford


Somebody should resign, this **** is going the same way as the soccer which I hardly look at anymore.

paul0103

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

What’s the idea behind doing them over multiple days?

breezy1985 wrote: »

Spread out the number of news bulletins and articles I assume.

Draw them all together and you only get 1 article in each paper or show on the radio

I think this Twitter thread nicely sums up why doing the draws like they did is a bad idea.

Unfortunately the GAA are just a bit awful when it comes to communication. Trying to find any information about competitions, past or present, is next to impossible on their website!

https://twitter.com/cormacpro/status/1384205267101880326

castletownman

ebbsy wrote: »

Dublin v Wicklow or Wexford


Somebody should resign, this **** is going the same way as the soccer which I hardly look at anymore.

It really highlights the lunacy of not having the Tailteann Cup in play.

I mean realistically what do Wicklow and Wexford have to play for now? Beating the handicap?

Unless Dublin join the European Super League, its another nail in the coffin of the Leinster championship. I'm sure apologists will be in soon now claiming it isn't Dublin's fault.

It'll probably be in Croker too seeing as its a QF.

breezy1985

paul0103 wrote: »

I think this Twitter thread nicely sums up why doing the draws like they did is a bad idea.

Unfortunately the GAA are just a bit awful when it comes to communication. Trying to find any information about competitions, past or present, is next to impossible on their website!

https://twitter.com/cormacpro/status/1384205267101880326

That tweet doesn't actually say anything. He given no explanation as to why he thinks splitting the draw was bad

BonnieSituation

castletownman wrote: »

It really highlights the lunacy of not having the Tailteann Cup in play.

I mean realistically what do Wicklow and Wexford have to play for now? Beating the handicap?

Unless Dublin join the European Super League, its another nail in the coffin of the Leinster championship. I'm sure apologists will be in soon now claiming it isn't Dublin's fault.

It'll probably be in Croker too seeing as its a QF.

It's not Dublin's fault. But you'll be hard pushed to find anyone who wants to keep the provincials at this point.

Also, that Wicklow are still continuously an embarrassment is down to Wicklow CB and politics. They're shameful.

breezy1985

ebbsy wrote: »

Dublin v Wicklow or Wexford


Somebody should resign, this **** is going the same way as the soccer which I hardly look at anymore.

Ya cause back in the good old streets paved with gold days Dublin v Wicklow would have been an even contest.

Wexford and Wicklow also have a league to play and do you know who decided the league is not important. Well it wasn't Dublin or HQ or whatever other bogeyman people conjure up it was the fans.
All those fans who only show up for the championship. If they would only go to the league in the same numbers things would be very different

roverjoyce

Fair play to Leinster, the super League of the GAA with their seeded draws
Why not have open draws and mix it up
Filling Croke park is their only priority

paul0103

breezy1985 wrote: »

That tweet doesn't actually say anything. He given no explanation as to why he thinks splitting the draw was bad

Did you read the 5-6 tweets that follow? Fair enough, nothing directly about why splitting the draws was a bad idea, but I think he makes a good argument for why the approach taken for the draws this year, and their promotion, wasn't the best.

They could have made a proper production/event out of it, but they didn't. It's not the biggest issue, but I think it does say something more generally about the GAAs own poor communication (which probably isn't a discussion for this thread).

breezy1985

paul0103 wrote: »

Did you read the 5-6 tweets that follow? Fair enough, nothing directly about why splitting the draws was a bad idea, but I think he makes a good argument for why the approach taken for the draws this year, and their promotion, wasn't the best.

They could have made a proper production/event out of it, but they didn't. It's not the biggest issue, but I think it does say something more generally about the GAAs own poor communication (which probably isn't a discussion for this thread).

I only read the picture you put up. I don't have twitter

paul0103

breezy1985 wrote: »

I only read the picture you put up. I don't have twitter

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1384205267101880326.html

breezy1985

paul0103 wrote: »

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1384205267101880326.html

Right now I get ya. It's a fairly shocking lack of social media knowledge and use. I can understand county boards not being able to throw too much at it but surely the GAA are paying someone to look after social media and making sure RTE do the same on their end

BonnieSituation

roverjoyce wrote: »

Fair play to Leinster, the super League of the GAA with their seeded draws
Why not have open draws and mix it up
Filling Croke park is their only priority

What are you on about?

Munster is seeded as well you know. You probably didn't know that though.

Also, have you complained about seeding in Leinster before or just this year?

Your bizarre and incongruous "Super League" jibe screams to me you're one of thos zeitgeist bandwagoner sorts who loves a flavour of the month pile on.

ebbsy

BonnieSituation wrote: »

It's not Dublin's fault. But you'll be hard pushed to find anyone who wants to keep the provincials at this point.

Also, that Wicklow are still continuously an embarrassment is down to Wicklow CB and politics. They're shameful.

To be fair we did get promotion last year.

But this is no help at all to us.

BonnieSituation

ebbsy wrote: »

To be fair we did get promotion last year.

But this is no help at all to us.

True enough. But I'm speaking historically. But that's a other day's work.