Counties hoping to make several challenge games accessible to public

Counties are hoping to make several challenge games accessible to the general public in lieu of the January pre-season competitions being disbanded. Pic: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott

Counties are hoping to make several challenge games accessible to the general public in lieu of the January pre-season competitions being disbanded.

Despite 22 counties at Central Council voting to reverse the decision to suspend the likes of the Munster Hurling League and the McGrath, McKenna and O’Byrne Cups, the Cavan motion to reverse the decision failed to receive the required three-fifths support by just two votes.

Provincial councils stand to lose out on gate receipts, which would have been bolstered by curiosity in the new football rules and the pent-up anticipation for the first sight of inter-county action in what will be six months.

Although many challenge fixtures will be held behind closed doors as had been the case when January competitions were staged, a number of counties are keen to exploit the market for early season matches. 

It also seems the Football Review Committee (FRC) are in favour of supporters experiencing the enhancements prior to the start of the league.

Ahead of the new Allianz Hurling League’s new seven-team format where two teams are relegated from Division 1, counties in the smaller ball code are also keen to organise open matches ahead of January 25/26.

Cork and Waterford’s hurling challenge game in Fraher Field on January 4 is open to the public with all proceeds going to former Déise defender Brian Greene’s cancer treatment fund and Waterford Hospice. 

Cork and UCC are also due to face off in the annual Canon O’Brien Cup in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, All-Ireland and Division 1 champions Clare are set to begin the defence of their league title with a home clash with Kilkenny.

As Wexford host Cork and Galway entertain Tipperary on the opening weekend at the end of January, The Banner will face The Cats in a repeat of this past season’s All-Ireland semi-final.

Munster champions Limerick have a bye in Round 1 and will begin their campaign with a trip to Cork in Round 2 at the start of February before entertaining Clare at home.

Elsewhere, Gaelic Life and The42.ie report Cairbre Ó Caireallain, who was Limerick’s strength and conditioning coach for the past three seasons, has joined the Derry senior football management team for 2025.

Antrim native Ó Cairealláin worked with John Kiely’s side from the 2022 season and prepared two All-Ireland winning sides. He previously worked with Tipperary in 2019 when they claimed the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

Ó Cairealláin has been replaced in Limerick by Adrian O’Brien, who was S&C coach with Clare in 2023 and the Tipperary footballers this past season. The Kilmallock man, father of starlet Shane, was also part of Ballyea and St Finbarrs’ senior county-winning set-ups in 2022 and remained part of The ‘Barrs group this past season.