GAA not expecting blowback to decision to retain Saturday All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals 

Luke Meade of Cork shoots from Chris Crummey of Dublin at FBD Semple Stadium. Pic: John Sheridan/Sportsfile

The GAA don’t anticipate there will be blowback to the decision to retain the All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-finals on Saturday.

On Tuesday, RTÉ revealed they will be broadcasting the two games on Saturday, June 21 and the Tailteann Cup semi-finals the following afternoon.

Last year, GAA president Jarlath Burns made a late intervention to flip the days of the football and hurling fixtures. However, it narrowly failed to receive the required 60% support at Central Council.

The GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee are confident the later Saturday throw-ins for the quarter-finals, as was the case in 2023, will appease the hurling fraternity.

“The only time the hurling quarter-finals could be shown last year was 1 o’clock and 3 o’clock,” said GAA director of club, player and games administration Feargal McGill. 

“This year, the TV slots are 4 o’clock and 6 o’clock and in recent years the evening throw-in time for those games were acceptable.

“The problem last year was it being a unique year because of the Euros the only times RTÉ could show the games was in the early and mid-afternoon, not because they were on a Saturday. It’s not an issue this year so on we go.” 

Last year was the second time in three seasons that the hurling quarter-finals were scheduled for Saturday afternoons. In 2022, former Cork goalkeeper Dónal Óg Cusack criticised the then 1.45pm and 3.45pm starts. 

“This game needs oxygen, as much oxygen as possible. Whoever allowed that to happen is not watching the back of hurling.” 

Cusack repeated his condemnation last year. 

“For several years, RTÉ have asked for the hurling quarter-finals to be moved to Sunday. The GAA leadership has refused. So this week, a well-intentioned Jarlath Burns has emerged dazed from a weekend of GAA politics. 

"One of the big tests of Jarlath’s presidency will be how effectively he can clean up the mess that he has inherited.” 

Meanwhile, it is hoped the GAA’s streaming service GAA+ will be launched by the end of next week. The pay-per-view platform had been pencilled in for a March 11 launch but was postponed.

Suggestions for the reasons behind the delay have ranged from the Government having to sign off on the sale of RTÉ’s 50% share of GAAGO to the GAA to part of the GAA+ schedule not yet being finalised with provincial councils. 

It is believed the Antrim-Armagh Ulster SFC quarter-final is set to be streamed but the game remains in doubt due to the furore over the venue.

The GAA are keen to announce subscription details prior to the start of the provincial championships on April 5 and 6. 

At Congress last month, Burns revealed GAA+ will be showing games from that opening weekend of the championship.

Two of Munster champions Limerick’s provincial games are expected to be shown on GAA+, their opener against Tipperary on Easter Sunday, April 20, as well as the Round 3 game against Waterford in Walsh Park on May 3. 

Clare v Tipperary in Ennis on May 10 is also set to be streamed.