THE GAA WILL break new ground later this month when it stages its first-ever Friday night Championship match.
The All-Ireland SFC first-round qualifier between Carlow and Laois will be held in Dr Cullen Park on Friday 28 June with throw-in at 7.45pm.
It’s a move that opens up new doors in the summer schedule but which will surely rankle with traditionalists. Although club and underage competitions are frequently played midweek, this marks the first time that a senior Championship match in either code has been fixed for a Friday.
In 2003, Offaly did face Limerick in an All-Ireland senior hurling qualifier in Thurles.
Laois forward MJ Tierney was one of the first players to express his disappointment at the move. In a series of tweets yesterday evening, he wrote:
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…
What about lads that work in Dublin?”
Carlow goalkeeper Trevor O’Reilly echoed Tierney’s sentiments, tweeting: “Madness. Cant see the point of it.”
