League quarter-finals set to spark fixtures pile-up

The GAA are facing a hurling fixtures pile-up and a significant player welfare issue early in 2018 after the decision was taken to stick with the Allianz Division 1 quarter-finals.

Central Council on Saturday chose not to accept the Central Competitions Control Committee’s (CCCC) recommendation to axe them on the grounds that it would free up another weekend for clubs or at least provide counties with a breather in an already hectic schedule.

The games involving the top four in Division 1A and 1B will take place on March 11, meaning there will be no break weekend between the third round of the competition on February 17/18 and the final.