Updated GAA Master Fixtures Calendar

The GAA have released its updated Master Fixtures Calendar for the 2021 season.

The inter-county season will run from the weekend of May 8/9 with the start of the Allianz Hurling League, to the weekend of August 28/29 when the All-Ireland Football Final will be played.

County and Provincial Club Championships will be played in the months of September, October, November, and December with the All-Ireland Club Finals scheduled for February 2022.

The inter-county fixtures programme will be run off in a 20-week period and guarantees a minimum of five games for each Senior County Football and Hurling team with all bar three counties guaranteed six games in hurling.

2021 Allianz Football League

The Allianz Football League will from the weekend of May 15/16 to the weekend of June 19/20 with Divisions split into North and South as originally planned in December.

Four teams will be in each group based on geography with three Round Robin games per team. The top two in each divisional group will advance to the league semi-finals followed by a league final.

The bottom two in each divisional group will play relegation semi-finals with the two losers of those matches relegated. The bottom teams in Division 4 will play a Shield semi-final and final.

League finals will only be played on June 19/20 if counties involved are not playing in the championship the following weekend. If they are, then joint winners will be declared for Division 1 and joint winners and promotion for Divisions 2, 3, and 4.

London will not be participating in the 2021 Allianz Football League.

2021 Allianz Hurling League

Divisions 1 and 2 of the Allianz Hurling League will run from the weekend of May 8/9 to the weekend of June 12/13. Division 3 of the Allianz Hurling League will run from the weekend of May 15/16 to the weekend of June 19/20.

There will be no Division 1 Hurling League quarter-finals, semi-finals, or Final played. There will either be joint winners for 2021, or or if the teams that win Div 1A and Div 1B meet in the Championship, this will double as a League Final.

The Division 1 Hurling League Relegation Play-off will be played as curtain raiser to Senior Hurling Semi Final in August.

Divisions 2 and 3 will not have League Finals either. The top team in each Division will be crowned champions. The bottom team in Divisions 2A, 2B, and 3A will be relegated.

British based teams will not be involved in the Allianz Hurling Leagues this year. London and London and Warwickshire will start 2022 in Divisions 2B and 3A respectively; Lancashire in 3B.

The 2021 All-Ireland SFC will be played as a straight knock-out competition from the provincial series forward. There will be no Qualifiers and New York and London will not be involved.

There will be no Tailteann Cup in 2021.

2021 Liam MacCarthy Cup

There will be a provincial knock-out championship with back-door qualifiers like there was in 2020, but now also with the introduction of relegation to the Joe McDonagh Cup.

There will be a preliminary round in the qualifiers between the two defeated quarter-final team in Leinster with the winners progressing to Round 1 of the Qualifiers and the losers relegated to the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2022.

Competing countiesMunster: Limerick, Waterford, Tipperary, Clare, Cork.

Leinster: Kilkenny, Galway, Wexford, Dublin, Laois, Antrim.

2021 Joe McDonagh Cup

There will be no semi-finals in the Joe McDonagh Cup which is the only change from what was proposed in December.

The Joe McDonagh Cup winners are promoted in 2021 but do not have a back door into the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

The Joe McDonagh Cup will be played on Saturday, July 17, the same day as the Leinster SHC Final, and will be broadcast live on TV.

The six competing teams will be split into two Round Robin groups with each team playing one home and one away match. The top team in each group will play the runner up in the other group in the semi-finals with the bottom team in each group playing a relegation final.

If Kerry win the 2021 Joe McDonagh Cup they will play in Leinster in 2022 and replace the team relegated from the Leinster Championship this year.

Competing counties: Kerry, Westmeath, Meath, Carlow, Kildare, Down.

2021 Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard, and Lory Meagher Cups

The only change to what was announced in December is that British based teams will not be involved. The British based teams will begin the 2022 season in the same Cup they were due to play in in 2021. The three competitions will be played on the following basis.

Two sides to the draw:

Group A - 3 teams drawn on an open draw basis (each team plays 2 games)

Group B - Two teams play in one fixture

Quarter-Final/Relegation play-off: Bottom team from A v Loser of B (loser relegated – exception: Meagher Cup)

Semi Finals: Top 2 teams from Group A are drawn to play against Winner of Group B and Winner of Quarter Final/Relegation play-off

2020 Minor and U-20 Hurling Championships and Minor Football Championships

Details will be finalised when there is clarity on a return to training/play date.

2021 Minor and U-20 Football and Hurling Championships

Details will be finalised when there is clarity on a return to training/play date.

2021 Club Window Provisions

It is important to note that the GAA still does not have permission to return to club training or games with only training in pods of 14 allowed in the North.

However, the calendar is set up in such a way that:

Club competitions with county players can take place as County teams exit the Championships (in football, teams start exiting from the end of June; in Hurling July 10th) [RESTRICTIONS PERMITTING]

From August 1st, all Counties bar All Ireland Semi-Finalists in Football and Hurling, and the teams in the Div 1 Hurling Relegation play off, will be free to stage club competitions with county players. [RESTRICTIONS PERMITTING]

Additionally, the commencement of the Provincial Club Championships will be delayed until Mid-November.

Provinces have been requested to ensure Clubs from teams in the senior inter-county All Ireland Semi-finals and Finals will not be involved in the earliest round of the relevant Provincial Championship (where possible).

Senior Provincial Club Championship will most likely start in or around the weekend of Nov 20/21 (dates to be finalized by each Provincial Council).

All Ireland Senior Club Finals are provisionally scheduled for the weekend of February 12/13 2022.

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2021 League and Championships – Revised Overview (April 2021)

1. Preparation window and games provisions:

Return to collective Senior inter county training on April 19th

No return dates as of yet for collective inter county minor or U20 training – current exemptions only relate to Senior level.

Below provisions guarantee a minimum of 5 games for each Senior County Football and Hurling team (all bar 3 counties guaranteed 6 games in Hurling)

Objective – balance

Ensuring sufficient games at inter-county

League v Championship

Club window (2020 and 2021)

Inter county completed by end of August

Original Programme announced in December – 27 weeks; new programme is 20 weeks

2. Allianz Leagues

Football

Run from May 15th/16th to potential League finals weekend on June 19th/20th.

Divisions will be split into North and South as planned in December.

4 teams in each group – based on geography.

3 Round Robin games per team.

Top two in each Divisional group to league semis, followed by league final*.

Bottom two in each Divisional group to Relegation semis – losers (2) relegated.

Bottom teams in Division 4 to Shield semi and final.

Changes to what was originally announced:

London will not be participating.

*League finals will only be played (on June 19th/20th) if Counties involved are not playing in the Championship on the following weekend.

In that circumstance, Div 1 – joint winners; Div 2, 3, 4 – joint winners and promotion.

Hurling

Div 1 and 2 Counties were asked if they were happy to return after 3 weeks on the basis that 5 league games could be guaranteed or after 4 weeks if only 3 games could be guaranteed – overwhelming majority opted for a return after 3 weeks.

Thus Division 1 and 2 will start on 8th/9th May – Division 3 the following week.

Div 1a and 1b: As announced in December – remain round robin groups of 6

No quarter or semi-finals.

NO DIVISION 1 HURLING LEAGUE FINAL scheduled – there will be either joint winners for 2021, or if the teams that win Div 1a and Div 1b meet in the Championship, this will double as a League Final.

Hurling League Relegation play off to be played as curtain raiser to Senior Hurling Semi Final in August.

Divisions 2 and 3 will not have league finals – top team in each Division will be crowned champions of that Division. Bottom team in 2a, 2b and 3a will be the relegated team.

British based teams will not be involved in the AllIanz Leagues.

London and Warwickshire will start 2022 in Divisions 2b and 3a respectively; Lancashire in 3b.

3. 2021 Football Championships

Provincial knock-out Championships

No Qualifiers

New York and London NOT involved

No Tailteann Cup in 2021

5. 2021 Liam Mac Carthy Cup

Provincial knock-out Championships with back-door qualifier system (as in 2020) but with introduction of relegation (to Mc Donagh Cup).

There will be 11 teams in Liam Mac Carthy in 2021.

Munster – Limerick, Waterford, Tipperary, Clare, Cork.

Leinster – Kilkenny, Galway, Wexford, Dublin, Laois, Antrim

There will be a preliminary round in the qualifiers between the two defeated Quarter-final teams in Leinster.

Winners progress to Qualifiers Rd 1 – Losers to Mc Donagh Cup 2022.

6. 2021 McDonagh Cup and 2021 Ring, Rackard and Meagher Cups

No semifinals in Mc Donagh Cup is only change from what was proposed in December.

Mc Donagh Cup winners are promoted in 2021 but do not have a back door into Liam Mac Carthy.

Mc Donagh Cup and LSHC Final to be on Saturday, 17th July (to ensure Live TV coverage of Mc Donagh Cup final).

If Kerry wins the 2021 Mc Donagh Cup, they will play in Leinster in 2022 and replace the relegated team from the LSHC.

Mc Donagh Cup

Ciarraí

An Iarmhí

An Mhí

Ceatharlach

Cill Dara

An Dún

Played on the following basis:

Round Robin Phase – A and B groups of 3 teams, each drawn on an open draw basis.

Each team plays 2 games (one home, one away).

Top team in each group to Final

Bottom Team in each group to Relegation Final.

Semi-finals – Winner Group A v Runner Up Group B, and Winner Group B v Runner Up Group A Final (Home venue to Group winners)

Ring Cup

Rackard Cup

Meagher Cup

Ros Comáin

Sligeach

Cill Mhantáin

Doire

Uíbh Fhailí

Londain

Dún na nGall

Maigh Eo

Liatroim

Ard Mhacha

Tír Eoghain Warwickshire

Muineachán

An Longfort

An Lú

An Cabhán

Fear Manach

Lancasír

Only change to what was announced in December is that British based teams will not be involved:

Played on the following basis (to guarantee at least 2 games for all teams with promotion/relegation):

Two sides to the draw: Group A - 3 teams drawn on an open draw basis (each team plays 2 games)

Group B - Two teams play in one fixture

Quarter-Final/Relegation play-off: Bottom team from A v Loser of B (loser relegated – exception: Meagher Cup)

Semi Finals: Top 2 teams from Group A are drawn to play against Winner of Group B and Winner of Quarter Final/Relegation play-off

British based teams begin the 2022 season in the same Cup as they were due to play in 2021

7. 2020 Minor and U20 Hurling, and Minor Football and 2021 U20 Football and Hurling, Minor Football and Hurling

Details will be finalized when there is clarity on a return to training/play date.

8. 2021 Club Window Provisions

Important to note that we still do not have permission to return to club training or games yet (only training in pods of 15 allowed in the North)

However, calendar is set up in such a way that:

Club competitions with county players can take place as County teams exit the Championships (in football, teams start exiting from the end of June; in Hurling July 10th) [RESTRICTIONS PERMITTING]

From August 1st, all Counties bar All Ireland Semi-Finalists in Football and Hurling, and the teams in the Div 1 Hurling Relegation play off, will be free to stage club competitions with county players. [RESTRICTIONS PERMITTING]

Additionally, the commencement of the Provincial Club Championships will be delayed until Mid-November.

Provinces have been requested to ensure Clubs from teams in the senior inter-county All Ireland Semi-finals and Finals will not be involved in the earliest round of the relevant Provincial Championship (where possible).

Senior Provincial Club Championship will most likely start in or around the weekend of Nov 20/21 (dates to be finalized by each Provincial Council).

All Ireland Senior Club Finals are provisionally scheduled for the weekend of February 12th/13th 2022.