The GAA are set to announce a new format for the senior hurling and football championship according to RTE Sport.
A meeting is scheduled tonight (Thursday) of the GAA management committee and this will see them rubber stamp plans in terms of new fixture plans. Further to this a press conference will be held by the GAA on Friday which will clarify these plans and details. RTE Sport report that the GAA have made some changes around the All-Ireland U20 Hurling series.
RTE state that the two last rounds of the National Football League will be played in mid October. They also report that the 2020 senior football championship will be played on a straight knockout basis. This would mean know back door for a team if they lose. The main reason why the back door qualifiers would likely not be used is because the championship would likely have to be played. The hurling championship will see a different scenario altogether. Teams will have a second bite at the cherry and will go into a qualifier round. RTE Sport say that “The system is set to mirror the format used up to 2018”.
The hurling championship will get underway at the end of October. Kilkenny and Wexford who both will be in the Leinster championship will both receive a bye to the Leinster semi-final stages having both reached the provincial decider in 2019 in which Wexford won for the first time since 2004.
In terms of the under age championships. The minor championship will be played on a knockout basis in both codes. The U20 Hurling championship will also be with no back door. It is expected this will also resume in mid October.
