The Laois football championships could be set for December finals as inter-county action is set to resume next month.
The two week lockdown of Laois, Offaly and Kildare at the start of August saw three weekends of championship action lost in Laois.
Prior to that, the Laois senior, intermediate and junior football finals were set to be completed two weeks before the inter-county action was to resume.
However, the delay meant that the two schedules are now in direct conflict and it is the club championship that will have to lose out.
Mike Quirke’s Laois are due to resume with the first of their final two Allianz League Division 2 games on Sunday October 18 away to Westmeath.
That was also to be the weekend that the semi finals of the junior and senior championships would be played while the intermediate final was also down for that weekend.
However, as Croke Park have signalled the resumption of the inter-county season on that date, Laois GAA will be left with little option but to halt their season.
So this would mean that the senior and junior championships would be halted after the quarter finals and the intermediate after the semi finals.
That pause is likely to continue until the Laois senior footballers exit the championship.
After the two league games, Mike Quirke’s men face either Louth or Longford in the Leinster football championship quarter final on Saturday November 7.
Should Laois win, they will play reigning All-Ireland and Leinster champions Dublin on Saturday November 14.
Should Laois exit at that stage, it is understood that some time may be given for players to prepare for the resumption of club activities – meaning the semi finals of the senior championship could be played in late November with a final in December. With junior and intermediate following suit.
In hurling, there is potential good news for Eddie Brennan’s Laois side as a decision to bring forward the senior hurling championship final by eight days is on the cards.
The final is currently scheduled for Sunday October 11 – but it is to be proposed that it be brought forward to Saturday October 3 and played under lights in MW Hire O’Moore Park.
The floodlights have been out of action in Laois GAA HQ since July as works are underway to make them more energy efficient.
But Chairman Peter O’Neill confirmed to LaoisToday that it is hoped they would be completed in time to facilitate this game.
If it does go ahead on that date, it would leave Eddie Brennan with three full weeks to prepare Laois to take on Dublin in the Leinster quarter final which is scheduled for October 24.
All of these decisions are set to go before a CCC meeting later this week.
The post December football final on the cards in Laois as inter-county set to halt club activity appeared first on Laois Today.
source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2020/09/17/december-football-final-on-the-cards-in-laois-as-inter-county-set-to-halt-club-activity/
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