500 supporters will be permitted at all GAA matches this weekend where there is a capacity of 5000 or more. The Government have brought forward the date to increase attendances by 48 hours. On Monday it was confirmed that 8000 fans will attend the Leinster hurling semi finals if they are switched to Croke Park as a pilot event. It is set to be a busy couple of days of championship action that gets underway from tomorrow evening for teams across the Shannonside/Northern Sound region. The 2021 Leinster U20 championship gets underway on Thursday evening with a number of round 1 fixtures. Longford will face Louth in Haggardstown, Westmeath are away to Kildare, Laois take on Wicklow, while Carlow welcome Wexford. All those games throw in at 7:30, with the format been a straight knockout.
In the minor competition, Meath and Offaly contest the 2020 final at T-E-G Cusack Park in Mullingar this evening at 7:30. The winner of that encounter will face the winner of Monaghan and Derry who contest the 2020 Ulster final on Friday night at 7:30 in Healy Park Omagh. The Farney side are contesting a 3rd final in a row, as they look to add to their provincial success of 2018 and 2019.
On the senior front, Longford have their 2nd outing in the Leinster championship this Sunday when they travel to Paric Tailteann to face Meath in the quarter final. Padraig Davis side accounted for Carlow in the opening round last weekend. Roscommon are also out on Sunday, as they face Galway in the Connacht semi final. Both sides will be looking to put the disappointment of their recent relegations from Division 1 behind them when they meet in Dr. Hyde Park.
While in Ulster Monaghan welcome Fermanagh to St Tiernachs Park Clones on Saturday at 3:30. The home side secured their Division 1 status for an 8th consecutive year with a relegation play off win over Galway, while the Ernsiders missed out on promotion from Division 3 when they lost to Offaly at the semi final stage.
