The times they are a-changin' alright.
Bob Dylan didn't have changes to the Irish sporting calendar in mind when he wrote his famous composition in the 1960s, yet GAA fans will share many of the song's sentiments as to the championship season's new scheduling.
The split-season means All-Ireland finals in September are no more. No opportunities for young school kids, just a week into the new term, to share in the excitement of their county reaching Croker; no trek down to the Harvest Festival in Listowel for Dublin fans; no appearance for Liam or Sam on The Late Late Show.
We know the reasons why the finals have been brought forward, originally to August for the hurling finals, and now to July for football and hurling. The camogie and women's football deciders are scheduled for August this year.
In his annual report for 2022, GAA director general Tom Ryan said he does not expect All-Ireland finals to take place in September ever again.
"I don't envisage a return to the much loved September All-Ireland finals that we all grew up with," he wrote.
"I completely understand the power of tradition, and all that those weekends entailed. However times change and we have to change with them.
"We have the opportunity now to start building new summer traditions for a new generation of GAA players and supporters.
"I feel strongly that the new shape of the GAA season has a lot to commend it and offers us a solid template upon which to build."
And so we must adapt. The thrills of the Munster hurling round-robin will now play out in tandem with the lambing season; a few hurling heavyweights gone by the Whit weekend; men's silverware handed out before the start of the builders' holidays.
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Limerick returning home after their 2022 triumph
Sunday sees Kilkenny v Limerick in a repeat of last year's hurling decider. It was announced last week that both counties will not be staying in Dublin after the game, so no post-match banquet in the capital.
Another change then to the ritual that we have become accustomed to on All-Ireland weekend. In the Covid years of 2020 and '21, Limerick returned home, while Kilkenny made their way back to the Marble City after last year's defeat. But the fact that both camps have opted to not stay the night in Dublin this year is certainly a departure.
John Kiely's squad are due to board a train in Heuston Station at 8pm and plan to be back in Limerick city by 10pm. From there they will head to Fitzgerald's Woodlands House Hotel and Spa in Adare.
Similar to last year, Kilkenny will head first to Langton's Hotel, before then staying the night in the River Court Hotel.
As reported last week in The Examiner, hotel availability and the cost of rooms in Dublin are believed to be contributory factors although not primary ones behind their decisions.
Speaking on KCLR on the decision to 'go local' ahead of last year's final, Kilkenny PRO Paul Fitzgerald highlighted a "a number of factors", adding that "we have a wonderful relationship with the Citywest Hotel but that option is no longer available". The Saggart venue is now being used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees.
Tellingly, Fitzgerald added: "Some things remain the same, other things have changed, and changed drastically".
And so, no visit to The Boars Head or the Palace Bar on Monday next by members of the winning team. No visit also to the Children's Hospital in Crumlin, something that was a latter-day occurrence.
Jim Gavin and Stephen Cluxton somewhat overshadowed by a celebratory Jack McCaffrey #RTEgaa #SundayGame pic.twitter.com/xjfVtfrON8
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) September 17, 2017
The Sunday Game night-time programme on RTÉ television does, however, hope to have some post-match chat with the victors.
Since the programme began in 1979, it has been up close and personal with the vwinners in the hours after Liam and Sam was handed out. In the first couple of years, the winning squad headed out to Montrose, where Jim Carney oversaw proceedings. In subsequent years the programme has been live from the victory banquet.
For a short period (and it was short), there was also a trip to the losers' hotel. The mood was either sombre or phlegmatic and Jim Carney was on hand again to ask the questions.
We'll see how Joanne Cantwell and co cover things on Sunday evening, probably without the pomp and noise of previous years.
Things are a-changin' alright, though Up for the Match remains a constant in the TV schedule, still relevant for many whether it's July or September.
Watch the All-Ireland Hurling Championship final, Limerick v Kilkenny, this Sunday from 2.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championships semi-finals this Saturday, Tipperary v Waterford at 3.30pm and Cork v Galway at 5.30pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to radio commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
