Burns: Moving All-Ireland finals to August on the cards

The prospect of the All-Ireland finals moving into August by 2027 and the potential reintroduction of replays for provincial finals remain live according to GAA president Jarlath Burns.

The All-Ireland finals in both codes have been completed by the end of July since the split season template came into play three years ago.

At the launch of this year's All-Ireland hurling championship at the Faithful Fields in Offaly yesterday, the GAA president pointed out that Croke Park was unavailable next August due to concert scheduling but said that the idea of the All-Ireland hurling and football finals moving back to the first and third weekends in August from 2027 was in the mix.

And the GAA president also said he supported provincial final replays coming back on the calendar.

Next year the All-Ireland SFC will have just two rounds which will save a week for the Allianz League.

There will then be two weeks between the end of that competition and the start of the provincial championships.

There is now also a train of thought to run the Joe MacDonagh Cup concurrently with the All-Ireland hurling championship.

The nature of the match being decided on a penalty shoot-out has animated many hurling fans and administrators are now set to look at the issue of replays for provincial finals very closely in the coming weeks and months.

Could July All-Ireland finals soon be a thing of the past?

Also speaking at the launch of the All-Ireland hurling series yesterday was Limerick playmaker Cian Lynch.

The Patrickswell man wasn’t aware there would be a penalty shoot-out to decide last weekend’s Munster final until after extra-time.

He congratulated Cork for the win but, from a personal point of view, he would prefer to see provincial finals go to a replay.

"Hurling is such an instinctive game," he told RTE Sport.

"It’s an art form, it’s an expression. Why do people play it? To let players go out and express themselves. It’s because it’s a 15-man game, it’s a chance to have a man on the shoulder to pass the ball and keep the game moving.

"But when it comes to penalties, other than the five guys and the goalie, there is the feeling of not being able to help if you’re not taking a penalty. After playing 70 to 90 minutes of hurling, to have it based on standing over a penalty, that is tough. In my own mind I would maybe have another five minutes per half. Taking penalties is some responsibility, but great credit to the guys who were involved.

"You would love to have another crack at it. Any team would but it’s in the past now. We unfortunately didn’t win. And Cork did."

Follow a live blog on the All-Ireland Football Championship on Saturday on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game at 9.30pm.

Watch an All-Ireland Football Championship double-header, Monaghan v Down and Donegal v Mayo, on Sunday from 1.30pm. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 9.30pm.

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