GAA: 2021 Inter-County Fixtures Plan Released

Inter county GAA action will return from the weekend of May 8^th/9^th after the updated Fixtures calendar was released this afternoon.

The opening round of the National Hurling League begins in four weeks and the season will conclude with the All-Ireland Senior Football Final on the last weekend of August.

There will be no qualifiers in the All-Ireland football championship; but there will be a backdoor in the hurling competition, similiar to 2020.

The National Football League begins May 15^th/16^th while club championships are scheduled to commence in September with the All-Ireland club finals taking place in February 2022.

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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.

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2021 Allianz Football League

• Divisions split into North & South
• Starts (May 15^th/16^th), Finishes (June 19^th/20^th)
• Four teams (based on geography) in each groups.  Top two qualify for semi-finals
• Bottom two in each group contest relegation.
• No League Final if either participant is playing in opening weekend of championship.
• Championship begins (June 26^th/27^th)
• London not be participating in 2021 Allianz Football League.

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2021 Allianz Hurling League

• Divisions 1 & 2 (start May 9^th). Finishes June 12^th/13^th
• No Division 1 knockout series.  Joint winners unless Division 1A and 1B winners meet in championship
• Division 1 Relegation play-off to be curtain raiser to All-Ireland semi-final.
• British based teams will not be involved in the Allianz Hurling Leagues this year.