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GAA rule out midweek Championship fixtures this year

The GAA has ruled out playing midweek inter-county championship matches later this year, as it's "no...


GAA rule out midweek Champions...

Sport

GAA rule out midweek Championship fixtures this year


The GAA has ruled out playing midweek inter-county championship matches later this year, as it's "not practical" for amateur players.

Games will take place on Saturdays and Sundays with a range of throw-in times being considered.

The last midweek championship match was the football qualifier meeting of neighbors Laois and Carlow on a Friday evening in 2013.

"We won't be having Friday night fixtures, for the very simple reason that we remain a volunteer association," Feargal McGill said when asked if there could be midweek scheduling. "If you have a game at 8 o'clock on a Friday, you are talking about teams getting together at 1 o'clock in the day. That's a half-day off work for those that have to work.

"Also, everyone just thinks that you turn up in Croke Park and the venues and run out onto the pitch and it all happens.

"For our volunteer stewards all around the country, they have got to be in place three or four hours beforehand and you would be depending on them getting off work.

"The practicalities are just not on. It's nice to look at rugby and soccer and think it's great that they can play on any day. It's not practical in an amateur association."



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Championship Friday Night Lights GAA

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