Thankless task of the fixture planners

Last month, GAA president Liam O’Neill was asked about the annual difficulties county boards encounter with fixtures at the latter end of the year.

His response, aimed at the media, was frank. “People have nothing else to write about at this time of year, quite frankly. There’s more focus on it, as a result.

“Fixture-planning has to be done a full year in advance if it’s going to have an effect.”