Speaking on The Sunday Game, both Paul Flynn and Enda McGinley were fully behind the idea of games on a Friday night, this after Leinster GAA chairperson Martin Byrne suggested the possibility of championship fixtures being played on that day of the week.
It's not a novel move, however, as in the past games have been played on Bank Holiday Mondays, a Thursday and a Friday.
In 2003, a hurling championship qualifier on a Thursday was staged in Thurles between Limerick and Offaly. And ten years later, a Friday evening was the setting for Carlow v Laois in a football qualifier at Dr Cullen Park.
With a greater volume of games now being played across Saturday and Sunday because of the condensed championship season, Byrne, writing in his programme notes for the Offaly-Laois clash, made the case for a standalone game involving neighbouring counties on a Friday evening. He added that not only would it ease fixture congestion, but also allow such a game to take centre stage.
"Bring it on" was the initial response to Byrne's proposal from Dublin All-Ireland winner Flynn.
'Bring it on…we really need to be better at marketing our games' – Paul Flynn and Enda McGinley back the prospect of Friday night games pic.twitter.com/xYaK6bnJgC
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 12, 2026
"We really have to be better at marketing our games. Friday night? Everybody would love it. Have them local, have them a little bit later at half past eight. Make sure the players are sorted out for whatever expenses are required for them to be able to get away from work a little bit earlier. Have them [the games] planned far in advance as you possibly can so they can prepare for it.
"It would be really welcome. For us as analysts in the game and as a fan, you would love to see a Friday night game.
McGinley was equally as welcoming, saying: "Through the National League, it might be easier planned but I think there is a future in Friday night games. There will be issues in terms of player recompense and half days on Fridays may be workable if the two counties are close. I'd love to see it."
Watch a Munster Hurling Championship double-header, Clare v Waterford (2pm) and Tipperary v Cork (4pm), on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on the RTÉ News app and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
