No August date for All-Ireland finals in 2026
GAA president Jarlath Burns has stated that the All-Ireland finals will remain in July for 2026, adding that a future move to August will be a decision for his successor.
The news comes after Burns had earlier floated the possibility of the football and hurling deciders returning to a conclusion in September.
In his annual report, published in February, GAA director general Tom Ryan suggested that All-Ireland finals could edge back into early August in the future, saying: "There is a gathering mood to shuffle the finals back by a week or two, and that may well transpire in the future. Stretching the season out a little would be no bad thing – but I don't foresee a return to September."
Speaking on the GAA's in-house broadcast platform, GAA+, Burns said any decision on whether the finals move to August in 2027 would be a job for whoever succeeds him as president.
"This year it's out," he said. Next year it's out as well. But it's going to be the next president who'll make that decision, whether or not we go into August. It's probably not going to be my decision.
"But I would be open to it, notwithstanding the health warning that comes with the whole area of starting the club championships.
"We were showing so little respect to the club player that there was literally a group set up called the Club Players Association and they had one word – fixtures.
"We solved that for them."
The Armagh native also referenced concerts in Croke Park, which he said were an important economic driver for the association.
"And I'm going to say the next thing without any apology – we also have concerts in this. Croke Park is now the major funding organ of the GAA – let's not forget that.
"This stadium is keeping our organisation financially viable."
Since 2022, All-Ireland finals have been played in July, with the calendar being rearranged around the split-season formula of reserved time for club and inter-county.
While surveys indicate the split season is favoured by players, it has met opposition from supporters, as well as critics, who feel the GAA is losing promotional potential by concluding its most high-profile competitions in mid-summer.
In 2026, the All-Ireland hurling final will take place on 19 July, the same day as the men's World Cup final in New Jersey, and also the last day of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
38 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock break down in tears as Northern Ireland win World Cup of Darts in final leg decider
JOSH ROCK burst into tears on stage after Northern Ireland won a dramatic World Cup last leg decider. Team partner Daryl Gurney hit double eight to wrap up an epic 10-9 win over Wales' Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton in Sunday night's final in Frankfurt. Advertisement 1 Northern Ireland duo Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock let it all out after victory Rock, 24, and Gurney then dropped to their knees on stage in scenes of incredible emotion as they picked up their first world titles and an £80,000 jackpot. He said: 'When we said we are paired together we'll win it. We didn't expect to do it, but we did it. 'As a team we were fantastic. We fought hard all the way through.' Gurney added: 'Firstly congratulations to Wales. They showed their class. Jonny and Gezzy, absolute legends of the game. Advertisement 'Josh had the power-scoring and I just had to clean up the finishing. 'I hope I don't get a fine for this but every time I went for double five a wee bit of poo fell out! 'I was never going to miss double eight. I have never been so proud of this man and myself.' Northern Ireland made a storming start and Wales were lucky to only be trailing 3-2 at the first break. Clayton then hit a wonderful 142 to draw it level. Advertisement Most read in Darts Breaking Exclusive BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK But Rock was in inspired form, hitting 180s for fun, breaking the tournament record of 20. However, Price hit tops to break throw and Wales still hadn't missed a dart at a double. Then Rock delivered a cool tops to live the game again at the second break at 5-5. 'Stupid' - Josh Rock hits out at 'disrespectful' World Cup of Darts rival's on-stage antics Yet again Clayton nailed the double at first attempt and then a double six put them in command at 7-5. But a double 18 and double eight from Gurney put the Irish back in front. Advertisement Gurney then delivered a cool double 14 and now they were just one leg from glory. But they missed four title darts and Clayton hit double 16 and it went down to a decider. Rock then hit a crucial 171 and Gurney finished it with double eight.
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
All-Ireland preliminary quarterfinal draws, TV, streaming details, permutations
We have all the details of what is sure to be a hectic and dramatic fortnight of All-Ireland football action. Here is all the information you need to know for what lies ahead with just six weeks of the inter-county football season remaining and 12 teams left in the hunt for the Sam Maguire. When and where does the All-Ireland preliminary football quarter-final draw take place? The preliminary quarter-final draw takes place tomorrow (Monday) morning on RTE Radio 1 after the 8.30am news. What's the story with TV games next weekend? It's bad news for Gaelic football fans who don't want to pay to stream games or who have poor wifi, with all four All-Ireland preliminary football quarter-finals set to be shown on GAA+ next weekend and not on RTE. How does the preliminary quarter-final draw work and who is in the hat? There are two pots, one for first seeds and the other for second seeds. 1st Seeds (Home Preliminary Quarter-Final next weekend): Dublin, Kerry, Donegal and Down 2nd Seeds: (Away preliminary Quarter-Final next weekend): Galway, Cork, Louth and Cavan. Are repeat pairings from the group stages allowed? These will be avoided where possible, in the first instance provincial finals pairings and then repeat pairing from the All-Ireland round robin. These repeat pairing are all from the round robin and are as follows: Donegal v Cavan, Down v Louth, Kerry v Cork and Dublin v Galway So, which sides can the eight teams in tomorrow's draw face in the preliminary quarter-finals? Kerry (H) v Galway, Louth or Cavan Donegal (H) v Galway, Louth or Cork Dublin (H) v Louth, Cork or Cavan Down (H) v Galway, Cork or Cavan Galway (A) v Donegal, Down or Kerry Louth (A) v Donegal, Kerry or Dublin Cork (A) v Donegal, Down or Dublin Cavan (A) v Down, Kerry or Dublin What's the bag with the draw? Louth look to be really up against it, having to travel to Ballybofey, Killarney or Croke Park to face Donegal, Kerry or Dublin. It's not much easier for Cavan who have to travel to face Kerry, Dublin or Down in the last 12. Galway are the third seed that no-one wants and Dublin can't draw them, so a clear path to the All-Ireland quarter-finals has opened up for Dessie Farrell's side after defeating Derry at the weekend in the 'Group of Death.' One of Kerry, Donegal or Down has to draw Galway. They'll all be keen to avoid last year's All-Ireland finalists. What about the All-Ireland Quarter-Finalists? Who and when will they play? The four All-Ireland quarter-finalists are Meath, Monaghan, Tyrone and Armagh, who all topped their groups. They have a fortnight off now to prepare for a Croke Park date with the four All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final winners. Meath, Monaghan, Tyrone and Armagh won't know who they will play until a draw takes place next Sunday evening or Monday morning. Once again, provincial final repeating pairings will be avoided where possible, as will repeat pairings from the group stages. What does this mean? It means the following teams are unlikely to face the opponents listed below - if they survive next weekend, but it may not be possible to avoid repeating pairings. Meath: Louth, Kerry, Cork Armagh: Donegal, Dublin, Galway Monaghan: Louth, Down Tyrone: Cavan, Donegal
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Mayo exit championship in most Mayo way possible after survival instincts let them down
Survival. That's what the weekend was about. At a certain point, style means nothing and staying alive is the only substance. Sixteen teams started out, 12 are left standing. Mayo, Roscommon, Derry and Clare are the counties who couldn't escape the guillotine's blade. Mayo went out in maybe the most Mayo way possible. The clock in Dr Hyde Park read 69:43 when Fergal Boland drew them level with Donegal. The crowd bounced in the stands, as a draw would mean Cavan were gone and Mayo were through. With Tyrone 12 points up at the time, Donegal could do nothing to improve their lot. Draw the game, win the game – it didn't matter. They were finishing second regardless. All that was left was for their goalkeeper Shaun Patton to boot the ball into the stands. He did not boot the ball into the stands. READ MORE Instead, he aimed one last long kick-out at Brendan McCole, overhit it with the wind behind him and saw it bounce into the arms of Ciarán Moore. The hooter went as Moore gathered the ball and the young Donegal wing-back skinned Seán Morahan, cut inside Jack Carney and scored the winner. And so Mayo were beaten, sent out of the championship by a point that didn't even do Donegal any good. They paid the highest tariff possible for losing to Cavan three weeks ago. 'When you play a league format, you get what you deserve,' said Stephen Rochford afterwards. 'Over the course of the three games, the league table doesn't lie.' Mayo's Jordan Flynn tackles Michael Murphy of Donegal during Sunday's All-Ireland SFC round-robin clash at Dr Hyde Park. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho The championship is feral and suffocating. Of the eight games over the weekend, six were decided by four points or less. Tyrone's 13-point hammering of Cavan and the nine (!) points Meath had over Kerry were the only outliers. Everywhere else, it was scratch and claw and scrabble all the way to the end. Even Clare, lowly Clare, forgotten and dismissed by everyone, presumed an easy mark for Louth, even they hauled it back to a two-point game as time ran dead. Ger Brennan's side survived but they were ragged and frayed by the hooter's blast. You want a sense of how tight this all is? None of the provincial champions are guaranteed a spot in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. The fortnight's break that comes with topping your round-robin group will be enjoyed by Monaghan, Meath, Armagh and Tyrone. The latter two are among the favourites for Sam Maguire, despite having been beaten twice in the championship already. Every county has lost at least once. That's how it goes. On a weekend like this, everyone starts out like a school student with a brand new copybook, all neat lines and tidy writing. By the end, everything is covered in ink blots and scribbles and Tipp-Ex, and you're hoping against hope that you've poxed the right answers. Fortunes flip in the time it takes to update the ScoreBeo app. Cavan's Ciarán Brady goes shoulder-to-shoulder with Michael McKernan of Tyrone. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho On 54 minutes, Mayo were bottom of the table and going out. On 55, they were top and heading straight to the quarter-final. On 56, they were in third and going away next weekend for a preliminary quarter-final. On 57, they were bottom again. Ultimately, they danced on the knife-edge one too many times, sunk by their terrible display at home to Cavan the first day out. They end the group stage with a points difference that is 32 points superior to Cavan's but go out on the head-to-head record. Given that they were able to match strides with Donegal and Tyrone, it is a deeply careless way to exit the championship. Survival is all. You have to find a way. Mayo and Derry are better than probably four of the remaining teams and a match for the rest on their day. But their game-management let them down when it mattered most. Derry should have seen out their game against Galway last week. Mayo only needed to play one more pass before their equaliser and there wouldn't have been time for the kick-out. But both made a mess of it and so the season is done. Shane Walsh of Galway is congratulated by teammates after the Tribesmen's come-from-behind victory against Armagh at Kingspan Breffni Park. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho Others got busy livin'. Galway are the most dangerous third-placed team in Monday morning's draw and will be going to one of Ballybofey, Killarney or Newry next weekend. Armagh had them on toast for the first half on Saturday night but Pádraic Joyce's side found their way back and won . He summed up the game – and the whole weekend – perfectly. 'Yeah, look, the objective, obviously, was to get out of it. You try and get out in as high a position as you can. The way the last two weeks went for us, we happily settled for third to win the game tonight. We're happy to just get out of it. 'We were eight down at half-time. Could have been more down actually as well. In saying that, we fought back. We knew at half-time that we were fighting for our lives. The lads showed great character and I'm really proud of them, the way they played. It was great. We're on to next week.' The only thing that matters.
