Carlow and Laois meet in Championship’s first Friday foray

History will be created on June 28 when Dr Cullen Park plays host to the first ever Friday evening senior Championship game.

Carlow will welcome neighbours Laois for the counties’ first round All-Ireland SFC qualifier after both boards agreed to the fixture being staged at 7.45pm that evening.

However, Dr Cullen Park has no floodlights and with the facility of extra-time in operation should the sides level at full-time, the game runs the risk of being played in faltering light. The game in normal time should finish at approximately 9.15pm.

On Twitter, Laois forward MJ Tierney reacted incredulously to news of the game being fixed for Friday week: “An inter county championship match on a Friday evening... That’s hardly right is it??? That’s absolutely ridiculous no regard for either set of players...”

In 2011, there were attempts between Dublin and Mayo to stage their Division 1 game in Croke Park on a Friday but they were shot down by then GAA president Christy Cooney.

However, GAA director general Páraic Duffy later indicated he was in support of the idea of Friday night league and Championship games between neighbouring counties.

Dublin this year tried to persuade Kildare into rearranging their “home” Division 1 game at GAA headquarters on Friday, March 8 but Kildare objected to the idea. The Leinster Council had also attempted to arrange one of their preliminary round games for a Friday last month.

In another departure, Owenbeg in Dungiven will stage its first Championship game when Derry face Sligo in a qualifier on Sunday, June 30.

Meanwhile, Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan has been ruled out for the rest of the Championship after damaging knee ligaments in a club game this past weekend. The 21-year-old, who followed up a fine league campaign with a disappointing SFC debut against Donegal last month, will be sidelined for four months.

“I’m looking at next season now, and staying positive. There’s nothing else you can do,” he admitted as Tyrone prepare to travel to Offaly the weekend after next for a first round qualifier.

“All I can do is hope for the best, work hard and try to get recovered as quickly as I can without any more setbacks.”