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Replying To Tadhg2020: "You are extending the intercounty when you go into August. The cut off point is 31/7 afaik.
I think it has to happen but viking is also correct. The political goodwill just isnt there to make it happen. That is why we are really only talking about 1 weekend( 2nd weekend in june) within this current time frame.
The provincial finals are on the first weekend of june. You can add extra games to the weekend but they will be completely overshadowed by the finals. They are also guarenteed to be behind a paywall if televised at all as RTE schedule will be swamped with the provincial finals and football qualifiers. They wont show another hurling match because of balance.
The next weekend has no hurling but lots of footballs there is an opportunity for exposure there. 3rd v 4th fits in well there. I can see Clare v KK being attractive. Offaly v Waterford might not be.
The following weekend is the quarter finals and the last weekend is a recovery weekend before the semi finals and that is necessary.
As for the other lower tiered championships I dont see any demand coming from the counties themselves. Take Kerry. Their hurling championship quarter finals take place this weekend. Thats happening for a reason." Agree about Kerry, but thats just one county.
Roscommon have only played one round. Most of the other lower tier counties havent even started yet.
Offaly v Waterford might be more attractive than you think, as both counties would view it as a winnable fixture. Obviously neither county has a massive hurling following in general, but if it was played in a venue like Nowlan Park it would have a great atmosphere with around 20k in it. Clare v Kilkenny likely wouldn't attract any more for a prelim QF.
Being realistic if we had a prelim QF, say 4th v 5th, then 4 QFs proper with home advantage for the 4 provincial finalists, thats probably as many extra games as we could get in June if we are to keep the Provincial Championships in a RR format played at the same time of year as they are.
It still would probably be better to play the Provincial Championships a couple of weeks earlier, then an 8 team AI RR with 2 groups of 4 finishing up on the 1st weekend in July, with the top 2 teams going straight to an AI final.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20263 - 09/07/2026 09:21:39
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "You are extending the intercounty when you go into August. The cut off point is 31/7 afaik.
I think it has to happen but viking is also correct. The political goodwill just isnt there to make it happen. That is why we are really only talking about 1 weekend( 2nd weekend in june) within this current time frame.
The provincial finals are on the first weekend of june. You can add extra games to the weekend but they will be completely overshadowed by the finals. They are also guarenteed to be behind a paywall if televised at all as RTE schedule will be swamped with the provincial finals and football qualifiers. They wont show another hurling match because of balance.
The next weekend has no hurling but lots of footballs there is an opportunity for exposure there. 3rd v 4th fits in well there. I can see Clare v KK being attractive. Offaly v Waterford might not be.
The following weekend is the quarter finals and the last weekend is a recovery weekend before the semi finals and that is necessary.
As for the other lower tiered championships I dont see any demand coming from the counties themselves. Take Kerry. Their hurling championship quarter finals take place this weekend. Thats happening for a reason." Agree about Kerry, but thats just one county.
Roscommon have only played one round. Most of the other lower tier counties havent even started yet.
Offaly v Waterford might be more attractive than you think, as both counties would view it as a winnable fixture. Obviously neither county has a massive hurling following in general, but if it was played in a venue like Nowlan Park it would have a great atmosphere with around 20k in it. Clare v Kilkenny likely wouldn't attract any more for a prelim QF.
Being realistic if we had a prelim QF, say 4th v 5th, then 4 QFs proper with home advantage for the 4 provincial finalists, thats probably as many extra games as we could get in June if we are to keep the Provincial Championships in a RR format played at the same time of year as they are.
It still would probably be better to play the Provincial Championships a couple of weeks earlier, then an 8 team AI RR with 2 groups of 4 finishing up on the 1st weekend in July, with the top 2 teams going straight to an AI final.
That might help eliminate the dead rubbers that there often are in the last round of the Provincial Championships, as 4th would still be worth fighting for.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20263 - 09/07/2026 09:23:31
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Problem for 4 team round Robins instead of QFs and SFs is dead rubbers.
Problem with having QFs and SFs is that between them and Provincial finals there are nearly no games of hurling as all the weekends i n Junexand July are taken up with them.
Its all not an easy issue to solve.
Circles back to 2 prelim QFs and having 4 QFs is probably the best that can be achieved to have more games of hurling in June if we keep the Provincial Championships as Round Robins and play them in April and May.
Although theres absolutely no good reason not to have the Joe Mac final in July, with a couple of rounds of Joe Mac group games and a 3rd/4th SF in June. That would give us more games of decent level intercounty hurling in June also.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20263 - 09/07/2026 10:28:03
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Problem for 4 team round Robins instead of QFs and SFs is dead rubbers.
Problem with having QFs and SFs is that between them and Provincial finals there are nearly no games of hurling as all the weekends in June and July are taken up with them.
Its all not an easy issue to solve.
Circles back to 2 prelim QFs and having 4 QFs is probably the best that can be achieved to have more games of hurling in June if we keep the Provincial Championships as Round Robins and play them in April and May.
Although theres absolutely no good reason not to have the Joe Mac final in July, with a couple of rounds of Joe Mac group games and a 2nd/3rd SF in June. That would give us more games of decent level intercounty hurling in June also.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20263 - 09/07/2026 10:31:35
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"Circles back to 2 prelim QFs and having 4 QFs is probably the best that can be achieved to have more games of hurling in June if we keep the Provincial Championships as Round Robins and play them in April and May."
Entertaining this:
If for any bizarre reason 4th v 5th preliminary quarter finals were played on the weekend of provincial finals - a provincial winners rule should have to come in for quarter finals and semi finals to promote the integrity of striving to win one's provincial title.
Once upon a time a certain sport had an away goals rule. Adopting something along those lines - if any team is level with provincial winners after extra time in the quarter finals or semi finals - provincial winners should progress on a provincial winners rule as a tie breaker. To knockout a provincial winner on the way to the All Ireland final would have to require beating them in ordinary time or extra time. Winning a provincial title would act as tie breaker by default.
Scheduling...
Provincial finals, Joe Mac final and preliminary quarter finals (4th v 5th).
Football weekend
All Ireland quarter finals: 1st at home v Pre QF winner and 2nd at home v 3rd placed.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9957 - 09/07/2026 18:46:40
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Replying To legendzxix: ""Circles back to 2 prelim QFs and having 4 QFs is probably the best that can be achieved to have more games of hurling in June if we keep the Provincial Championships as Round Robins and play them in April and May."
Entertaining this:
If for any bizarre reason 4th v 5th preliminary quarter finals were played on the weekend of provincial finals - a provincial winners rule should have to come in for quarter finals and semi finals to promote the integrity of striving to win one's provincial title.
Once upon a time a certain sport had an away goals rule. Adopting something along those lines - if any team is level with provincial winners after extra time in the quarter finals or semi finals - provincial winners should progress on a provincial winners rule as a tie breaker. To knockout a provincial winner on the way to the All Ireland final would have to require beating them in ordinary time or extra time. Winning a provincial title would act as tie breaker by default.
Scheduling...
Provincial finals, Joe Mac final and preliminary quarter finals (4th v 5th).
Football weekend
All Ireland quarter finals: 1st at home v Pre QF winner and 2nd at home v 3rd placed." Why have the Joe Mac final that early in the year?
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20263 - 09/07/2026 22:33:56
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Replying To Viking66: "Why have the Joe Mac final that early in the year?" Briefly: in favour of a group of 8. 7 rounds. Top 4 in semi finals. Top 2 with home game. Joe Mac final curtain raiser for All Ireland semi final.
Current state of play: no signs of an interest in change amongst lower tier hurling counties. Sin é.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9957 - 10/07/2026 10:27:55
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Replying To legendzxix: "Briefly: in favour of a group of 8. 7 rounds. Top 4 in semi finals. Top 2 with home game. Joe Mac final curtain raiser for All Ireland semi final.
Current state of play: no signs of an interest in change amongst lower tier hurling counties. Sin é." Has the option even been put to them? Most havent even started their club hurling championships yet, or only barely started them.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20263 - 10/07/2026 10:43:44
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Replying To Viking66: "Has the option even been put to them? Most havent even started their club hurling championships yet, or only barely started them." What was voted at Congress was a 2nd v 3rd semi final in the Joe Mac next year. Sin é.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9957 - 10/07/2026 11:01:57
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Replying To legendzxix: "What was voted at Congress was a 2nd v 3rd semi final in the Joe Mac next year. Sin é." Yes. But that game could be the 2nd last weekend in June, with the final the 1st weekend in July.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20263 - 10/07/2026 12:39:36
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Replying To Viking66: "Agree about Kerry, but thats just one county.
Roscommon have only played one round. Most of the other lower tier counties havent even started yet.
Offaly v Waterford might be more attractive than you think, as both counties would view it as a winnable fixture. Obviously neither county has a massive hurling following in general, but if it was played in a venue like Nowlan Park it would have a great atmosphere with around 20k in it. Clare v Kilkenny likely wouldn't attract any more for a prelim QF.
Being realistic if we had a prelim QF, say 4th v 5th, then 4 QFs proper with home advantage for the 4 provincial finalists, thats probably as many extra games as we could get in June if we are to keep the Provincial Championships in a RR format played at the same time of year as they are.
It still would probably be better to play the Provincial Championships a couple of weeks earlier, then an 8 team AI RR with 2 groups of 4 finishing up on the 1st weekend in July, with the top 2 teams going straight to an AI final.
That might help eliminate the dead rubbers that there often are in the last round of the Provincial Championships, as 4th would still be worth fighting for." There is no room to move the provincial finsls forward a few weeks. That wont happen. They are huge fixtures in their own right and should be treated with the respect that they have earned and not pushed into early may.
The provincial winners have also earned the right to gain automatic qualification to the semi finals. They have just battled through and won very intense and physical championships. To be treated pretty much the same as the team that finished 3rd is an insult not to mention the fact that 3rd would have played 1 game less to get there. I cannot see any scenario where that will be allowed happen. I am surprised that you would even suggest it.
On Waterford, they have pretty decent support. Offaly just arent particularly attractive opposition atm to Munster teams . They are improving but not at a level to stir interest ( apart from Cork and that's purely a massive population thing). Id put them on par with Dublin(interest wise). We saw the crowd Clare v Dublin drew. Call it hurling snobbery if you like but the apathy is real.
On the tiered competitions ending earlier. That is a matter for them but there is no clatter for change there. Kerry are at Qtr final stage, Carlow is at round 3, Westmeath Rd2, laois starts this weekend etc. They are, generally, using this time to get rounds of their club championship out of the way before the dominant sport kicks in. It is happening in reverse in Limerick. Football championships start tonight.
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 726 - 10/07/2026 16:02:24
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Replying To Viking66: "Agree about Kerry, but thats just one county.
Roscommon have only played one round. Most of the other lower tier counties havent even started yet.
Offaly v Waterford might be more attractive than you think, as both counties would view it as a winnable fixture. Obviously neither county has a massive hurling following in general, but if it was played in a venue like Nowlan Park it would have a great atmosphere with around 20k in it. Clare v Kilkenny likely wouldn't attract any more for a prelim QF.
Being realistic if we had a prelim QF, say 4th v 5th, then 4 QFs proper with home advantage for the 4 provincial finalists, thats probably as many extra games as we could get in June if we are to keep the Provincial Championships in a RR format played at the same time of year as they are.
It still would probably be better to play the Provincial Championships a couple of weeks earlier, then an 8 team AI RR with 2 groups of 4 finishing up on the 1st weekend in July, with the top 2 teams going straight to an AI final." I was going to say that you could play the lowered tier finals on 4th weekend of june but you cant.
Croke park is booked out for the football quarter finals.
Im all for the same to apply to the hurling quarters .They should be in CP too the 3rd weekend of june but im in a minority, from a munster point of view , there.
When you factor in logistics, tv scheduling, football, rest requirements, club requirements etc there isnt much wiggle room with the schedule at all. Id love a week off between each round of the provincial RR and the current knockout structure. All it needs is August to be a reality but politically we are a bit away from that yet.
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 726 - 10/07/2026 16:12:41
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Lads just get the powers that be to extend the calender year to 385 days.
Problem solved.
Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 144 - 10/07/2026 20:06:20
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "There is no room to move the provincial finsls forward a few weeks. That wont happen. They are huge fixtures in their own right and should be treated with the respect that they have earned and not pushed into early may.
The provincial winners have also earned the right to gain automatic qualification to the semi finals. They have just battled through and won very intense and physical championships. To be treated pretty much the same as the team that finished 3rd is an insult not to mention the fact that 3rd would have played 1 game less to get there. I cannot see any scenario where that will be allowed happen. I am surprised that you would even suggest it.
On Waterford, they have pretty decent support. Offaly just arent particularly attractive opposition atm to Munster teams . They are improving but not at a level to stir interest ( apart from Cork and that's purely a massive population thing). Id put them on par with Dublin(interest wise). We saw the crowd Clare v Dublin drew. Call it hurling snobbery if you like but the apathy is real.
On the tiered competitions ending earlier. That is a matter for them but there is no clatter for change there. Kerry are at Qtr final stage, Carlow is at round 3, Westmeath Rd2, laois starts this weekend etc. They are, generally, using this time to get rounds of their club championship out of the way before the dominant sport kicks in. It is happening in reverse in Limerick. Football championships start tonight." We are at round 3 this weekend. Waterford are at round 2. Think all counties start off shortly after when their intercounty teams are done. Tyrone havent started their Senior Hurling championship yet. Mayo are thinking positive, their Senior hurling championship wont be starting until mid August.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20263 - 10/07/2026 20:27:08
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "There is no room to move the provincial finsls forward a few weeks. That wont happen. They are huge fixtures in their own right and should be treated with the respect that they have earned and not pushed into early may.
The provincial winners have also earned the right to gain automatic qualification to the semi finals. They have just battled through and won very intense and physical championships. To be treated pretty much the same as the team that finished 3rd is an insult not to mention the fact that 3rd would have played 1 game less to get there. I cannot see any scenario where that will be allowed happen. I am surprised that you would even suggest it.
On Waterford, they have pretty decent support. Offaly just arent particularly attractive opposition atm to Munster teams . They are improving but not at a level to stir interest ( apart from Cork and that's purely a massive population thing). Id put them on par with Dublin(interest wise). We saw the crowd Clare v Dublin drew. Call it hurling snobbery if you like but the apathy is real.
On the tiered competitions ending earlier. That is a matter for them but there is no clatter for change there. Kerry are at Qtr final stage, Carlow is at round 3, Westmeath Rd2, laois starts this weekend etc. They are, generally, using this time to get rounds of their club championship out of the way before the dominant sport kicks in. It is happening in reverse in Limerick. Football championships start tonight." Surprised your clubs are letting your Senior Football Championships start without some of their players who play on your intercounty hurling team.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20263 - 10/07/2026 20:29:49
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Replying To Viking66: "Surprised your clubs are letting your Senior Football Championships start without some of their players who play on your intercounty hurling team." If they dont play it would be pushed into November. There will be 3 rounds out of 5 played before the hurling starts. Its worse than just being missing intercounty hurlers. Many club hurlers aren't allowed play either. I know our dual players have been told not to or that their position on hurling team is at risk if they do. We were down 7 from last years team tonight due to this.
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 726 - 10/07/2026 23:03:53
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Replying To Viking66: "Yes. But that game could be the 2nd last weekend in June, with the final the 1st weekend in July." Football county boards are unlikely to extend the hurling season for no good reason.
At least hurling provincial championships have a qualification standard. All in in football. Counties can plod along at the bottom Division 4 and continue to their provincial championship regardless.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9957 - 11/07/2026 10:22:28
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Replying To legendzxix: "Football county boards are unlikely to extend the hurling season for no good reason.
At least hurling provincial championships have a qualification standard. All in in football. Counties can plod along at the bottom Division 4 and continue to their provincial championship regardless." Yes that is true but its only true because that is what football wants. It also allows a Westmeath come and win a competitive leinster championship and tipperary a munster one. That would have never happened in Hurling. The gap in standard is just way too wide.
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 726 - 11/07/2026 11:32:19
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "If they dont play it would be pushed into November. There will be 3 rounds out of 5 played before the hurling starts. Its worse than just being missing intercounty hurlers. Many club hurlers aren't allowed play either. I know our dual players have been told not to or that their position on hurling team is at risk if they do. We were down 7 from last years team tonight due to this." Thats terrible carry on
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20263 - 11/07/2026 18:15:36
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