Burns: Ireland Finals Potentially Being Moved to August
“The prospect of the All-Ireland finals moving into August by 2027” is still under discussion, according to GAA president Jarlath Burns. Since the split-season model was introduced three years ago, both the hurling and football All-Ireland finals have wrapped up by the end of July. However, this schedule may change. Speaking at the All-Ireland hurling championship launch at Faithful Fields in Offaly, Burns explained that Croke Park will be unavailable next August due to concerts. Still, he acknowledged that shifting the finals to the first and third weekends in August starting in 2027 is a real possibility.
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Replays Could Return to Provincial Finals
Burns also expressed his support for bringing back replays in provincial finals. This would be a major shift, especially as many fans and officials were disappointed by recent finals being decided on penalties. With next year’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship reduced to just two rounds, an extra week will be freed up for the Allianz League. After that, there will be a two-week gap before the provincial championships begin. This revised schedule opens up the calendar and allows for discussions about replay options and better structuring of the championships.
Joe McDonagh Cup Alignment and Penalty Debate
There’s also growing interest in aligning the Joe McDonagh Cup more closely with the All-Ireland hurling championship. Meanwhile, the idea of penalty shoot-outs determining major games has stirred debate. Many in the hurling community feel that replays would be a fairer way to settle crucial matches. The recent Munster final, which ended in a penalty shoot-out, reignited this conversation.
Cian Lynch Shares His Thoughts on Penalty Shoot-outs
Limerick star Cian Lynch also weighed in during the launch event. He revealed that he wasn’t aware penalties would decide the Munster final until after extra time. While he congratulated Cork on their victory, he personally would have preferred a replay. Lynch emphasized that hurling is an expressive, team-driven game. He explained that penalties isolate the moment to just a few players, leaving others powerless after contributing 70 to 90 minutes of effort. In his view, playing an extra five minutes each half would be a better solution. Though disappointed, Lynch accepted the result and praised those who took part in the shoot-out.
