The GAA's Fixtures Task Force has proposed that the association adopt a split-season model for its future games calendars.
The Task Force will now commence a consultation process as part of the likely progression towards a season with exclusive time periods for club and inter-county action.
If there is acceptance of the concept following the consultation process, a motion will be brought to annual congress in February 2021 proposing that the division of the calendar year will take effect from 2022.
This would entail the inter-county series being played before club activity and the All-Ireland football and hurling finals being completed no later than week 29 of the calendar year, which falls from July 18 to July 24 in 2022.
The GAA is recommending a split season after an overwhelming reaction from clubs to having their own defined period this summer amid the Covid-19 landscape.
The idea of the defined season scheduling model was considered in depth by the Task Force last year and, while it was considered to have much merit, it was felt on balance that it was unlikely to gain sufficient support to be adopted.
At the time, key challenges were identified such as the likelihood that the model might lead to a complete separation of inter-county players from their clubs for over half of the calendar year.
It would require playing the All Ireland senior hurling and football finals earlier in the year and the split template would not necessarily increase the number of weekends where club games could be played free of inter-county activity.
"We didn’t consider it further at the time because of the above reasons," said Feargal McGill, GAA Director of Player, Club and Games Administration.
"But the split season model was very well received this year. The notion of the All-Ireland final not being in September is now one we can get over.
"With clubs playing a defined summer season due to Covid-19, we soon found that feedback we received was overwhelming. Clubs were very happy with this."
Going with inter-county from the start of the year means the All-Ireland series will be completed by late July.
This will be a huge break from tradition and may also result in a significant lack of exposure for inter-county activity in the months of August and September.
McGill was asked whether the Association’s membership was ready to embrace such a move.
"The idea of the consultation process is to see if the Association is ready for July and August All-Ireland finals," he said. "So much about our report is about choices."
Other benefits of this year’s divide between club and county were having no crossover between the inter-county and club seasons, no interruptions at club level due to the county game, no ambiguity over player availability, and more regularity and certainty in the planning of club fixture programmes.
McGill also added that the prospect of playing club championships in the first part of the season was ruled out as it would mean that county finals would likely have to be played as early as April or May to accommodate subsequent provincial and All-Ireland club championships.
McGill said the Task Force also felt that non-championship club competitions would be unlikely to thrive once club teams exited their respective competitions.
"But with the inter county season first, there would be an opportunity for league or non-championship club games to be played in late spring and early summer," he said.
