GAA headquarters have published their master fixtures plan for next season with some interesting fixture times and dates arising, including that of both the Munster and Leinster Hurling Final on the same day, July 1st.

Elsewhere, the Munster Senior Football Final will take place on a Saturday evening 23rd of June at 7:00pm.

The Munster Football Championship is scheduled to take 35 days in total to complete whilst its hurling counterpart is to take 42. There is also set to be only a one week break between the finish of the new Super 8’s campaign and the All Ireland Football Championship.

Limerick’s Seán O’Dea in action against Wexford’s Conor Carthy. 24 June 2017: All Ireland Senior Championship Round 1B, Limerick V Wexford. Limerick, Gaelic Grounds.

In the Allianz Hurling League, the final will now be played under lights on Saturday March 24th, unless Kilkenny and Tipperary meet, in that case both county boards have agreed to play it at Nowlan park the following day.

As both the Hurling and Football leagues begin on January 28th, the only league games that will be played in April is the Division One and Two Football finals, which will be played on Sunday April 1st.

The GAA have commented on the fact they have the Munster and Leinster hurling finals on the same day saying:

“In order to avoid a “6 day turnaround” in the football championship, the necessity of playing the Munster and Leinster Hurling finals on the same day had to be considered.”

“This had never been done before as C.C.C.C and the provinces had always sought to maximise our opportunities to promote hurling in the context of a championship (before the recent changes agreed) that had very few high profile games in the early part of the season.

“However, given the huge number of high profile hurling games that will be staged in the provinces in 2018, we do not see the same issues arising as might have in previous years had such a proposal been floated.”

You can see the Masters fixture plan here: