The majority of county chairpersons are in favour of the inter-county season being played before the club season in 2021, with the leagues and All-Ireland expected to run from late February to mid July.
The GAA held a county chairpersons conference call today as they move closer to finalising structures for the 2021 season.
Two comprehensive plans were presented to the meeting. One draft showed the scheduling for inter-county to play first, while the other focused on what a club-first system would like.
Playing the inter-county season before club action was the overwhelming preferred stance from the meeting, RTÉ Sport understands.
During the conference call concerns were expressed about counties being able to meet the financial demands of playing inter-county first but these were offset by the concern of leaving club players idle so early in the year if the club went first.
With the feeling from the chairpersons predominantly that the inter-county season should commence first, the process of establishing the 2021 system potentially moves closer to completion.
The GAA's Management Committee will meet tomorrow, while Central Council will reconvene next week to further discuss the matter.
The outcome of today’s conference call is sure to be closely considered with a final decision expected next week on the 2021 template.
If management and Central Council also agree that county should come first it’s likely that the 2021 season will resume on weekend of 27-28 February, with the staging of the Allianz Leagues.
This would allow the Under-20 series to potentially begin three weeks later.
This template would see the Allianz Football League final played on 3/4 April with the Allianz Hurling League final a week later.
If the proposal given to chairpersons today gets the all-clear at higher level, there could be a swift movement towards championship action with the provincial inter-county series beginning on 17/18 April.
This would mean that the All-Ireland football final could be played on 17/18 July, bringing the inter-county championship series to a close a week after the hurling final.
The way would be paved then for an immediate focus on club championships with counties hoping to start their domestic championship games the following week.
From 16/17 October onwards the provincial club series could start, playing through to the All-Ireland club semi-finals which could be fixed for mid-December.
If the GAA ultimately decide to go club first next season, however, clubs would return to full contact training in late February and play right through until the week when the Allianz Leagues would start.
The All-Ireland club finals would be played on 14/15 August.
The inter-county season would commence on 31 July and conclude in late December.
The definite outcome from today’s gathering shows huge support from county chairpersons for a county-first process in 2021. It remains to be seen now whether Management and Central Council will also agree.
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