Having won the title last January, the Galway Development Hurlers are looking to retain their Connacht Hurling League title early in the new year when they once again head to the Connacht GAA Air Dome for a competition that includes six other teams. Apart from the five Connacht counties, Longford and New York will also participate in the 2024 event, with the first two games scheduled for New Year's Day. Galway go straight into the semi-finals on Thursday, January 4th at 7 pm when they play either New York or Leitrim, with the final scheduled for Saturday, January 6th at 7 pm. Galway are managed this year by Declan Molloy, the former Abbeyknockmoy hurling goalkeeper who famously captained Leitrim to victory in the 2019 Lory Meagher Cup final against Warwickshire in Croke Park. The Galway Development squad will be made up of 26 players from Junior 1 clubs who are not on another county panel and have not played at any grade above minor at inter-county level.
The League itself will see matches played over 35-minute halves, with all 10 subs allowed to be used, but only a maximum of 6 in the second half. A 'Golden Score' will be used to decide the result instead of penalties. All matches are in the Connacht GAA Air Dome.
2024 Connacht Hurling League fixtures:
Preliminary Round: Monday, January 1st - 5 pm Roscommon v Sligo, 7 pm Mayo v Longford
Preliminary Round: Tuesday, January 2nd - 5 pm New York v Leitrim
Semi-Finals: Wednesday, January 3rd - 7 pm - Roscommon or Sligo V Mayo or Longford
Semi-Finals - Thursday, January 4th - 7 pm - Galway v New York or Leitrim
Final - Saturday, January 6th - 5 pm Shield Final, 7 pm Cup Final
