The GAA had announced that Inter-county hurling will return from May eighth a week earlier than Gaelic football.
Division 1 and 2 Counties were asked if they were happy to return after three weeks on the basis that five league games could be guaranteed or after four weeks if only three games could be guaranteed – overwhelming majority opted for a return after three weeks.
Thus Division 1 and 2 will start on 8th/9th May – Division 3 the following week.
Division 1a and 1b: As announced in December – remain round robin groups of 6
No quarter or semi-finals.
No Division 1 Hurling League final scheduled; there will be either joint winners for 2021, or if the teams that win Div 1a and Div 1b meet in the Championship, this will double as a League Final.
Hurling League Relegation play off to be played as curtain raiser to Senior Hurling Semi Final in August.
Divisions 2 and 3 will not have league finals – top team in each Division will be crowned champions of that Division. Bottom team in 2a, 2b and 3a will be the relegated team.
British based teams will not be involved in the AllIanz Leagues.
London and Warwickshire will start 2022 in Divisions 2b and 3a respectively; Lancashire in 3b.
2021 Liam Mac Carthy Cup
Provincial knock-out Championships with back-door qualifier system (as in 2020) but with introduction of relegation (to McDonagh Cup).
There will be 11 teams in Liam Mac Carthy in 2021.
Munster – Limerick, Waterford, Tipperary, Clare, Cork.
Leinster – Kilkenny, Galway, Wexford, Dublin, Laois, Antrim
There will be a preliminary round in the qualifiers between the two defeated Quarter-final teams in Leinster.
Winners progress to Qualifiers Rd 1 – Losers to Mc Donagh Cup 2022.
2021 McDonagh Cup and 2021 Ring, Rackard and Meagher Cups
No semi-finals in McDonagh Cup is only change from what was proposed in December.
McDonagh Cup winners are promoted in 2021 but do not have a back door into Liam Mac Carthy.
McDonagh Cup and LSHC Final to be on Saturday, 17th July (to ensure Live TV coverage of Mc Donagh Cup final).
If Kerry wins the 2021 Mc Donagh Cup, they will play in Leinster in 2022 and replace the relegated team from the LSHC.
| McDonagh Cup |
| Ciarraí, An Iarmhí, An Mhí, Ceatharlach, Cill Dara, An Dún |
Played on the following basis:
Round Robin Phase - A and B groups of 3 teams, each drawn on an open draw basis.
Each team plays 2 games (one home, one away). Top team in each group to Final. Bottom Team in each group to Relegation Final.
Semi-finals - Winner Group A v Runner Up Group B, and Winner Group B v Runner Up Group A Final (Home venue to Group winners)
| Ring Cup | Rackard Cup | Meagher Cup |
| Ros Comáin
Sligeach Cill Mhantáin Doire Uíbh Fhailí Londain |
Dún na nGall
Maigh Eo Liatroim Ard Mhacha Tír Eoghain Warwickshire |
Muineachán
An Longfort An Lú An Cabhán Fear Manach Lancasír |
Only change to what was announced in December is that British based teams will not be involved:
Played on the following basis (to guarantee at least 2 games for all teams with promotion/relegation):
Two sides to the draw: Group A - 3 teams drawn on an open draw basis (each team plays 2 games) Group B - Two teams play in one fixture
Quarter-Final/Relegation play-off: Bottom team from A v Loser of B (loser relegated – exception: Meagher Cup)
Semi-Finals: Top two teams from Group A are drawn to play against Winner of Group B and Winner of Quarter Final/Relegation play-off
British based teams begin the 2022 season in the same Cup as they were due to play in 2021
2020 Minor and U20 Hurling, and Minor Football and 2021 U20 Football and Hurling, Minor Football and Hurling
Details will be finalized when there is clarity on a return to training/play date.
2021 Club Window Provisions
Important to note that we still do not have permission to return to club training or games yet (only training in pods of 15 allowed in the North)
However, calendar is set up in such a way that: Club competitions with county players can take place as County teams exit the Championships (in football, teams start exiting from the end of June; in Hurling July 10th) [restrictions permitting]
From August 1st, all Counties bar All-Ireland Semi-Finalists in Football and Hurling, and the teams in the Div 1 Hurling Relegation play off, will be free to stage club competitions with county players. [Restrictions permitting]
Additionally, the commencement of the Provincial Club Championships will be delayed until Mid-November.
Provinces have been requested to ensure Clubs from teams in the senior inter-county All-Ireland Semi-finals and Finals will not be involved in the earliest round of the relevant Provincial Championship (where possible).
Senior Provincial Club Championship will most likely start in or around the weekend of Nov 20/21 (dates to be finalized by each Provincial Council).
All-Ireland Senior Club Finals are provisionally scheduled for the weekend of February 12th/13th 2022.
