2020 Laois GAA club championship finals to be delayed further – with June date for county finals

The outstanding Laois club championships from 2020 will not be played until the summer of 2021, it is understood.

LaoisToday understands that clubs who are still in the respective football and hurling club championships were informed of the likelihood of waiting another six months before getting to finish their competitions.

It is expected that the GAA will confirm their calendar for 2021 in the coming days and that inter-county action will return first.

That is due to resume in February with the leagues before progressing into the championship then after that.

It is believed that the senior hurling championship will be ran on the same format as this year with a straight knock-out in the Leinster championship – with a backdoor guaranteeing at least two games.

In football, it is understood that the All-Ireland Qualifiers will return to give counties a second chance but there is no definitive decision on whether the Super 8s or the second-tier Tailteann Cup will proceed.

So on the back of that, Laois GAA chiefs informed the clubs involved in the outstanding hurling and football championships that it would most likely be late June before the 2020 club championships are concluded.

It is believed that a provisional date of June 26 2021 has been set for the Premier Intermediate and senior hurling finals – Portlaoise v The Harps and Borris-Kilcotton v Clough-Ballacolla respectively.

That date is movable pending when the Laois senior hurlers actually exit the championship.

With the nature of the All-Ireland football championship, it is more difficult to pinpoint exactly when the senior football championship semi finals and final will be played but the clubs involved – Ballyfin, Portarlington, Emo and Graiguecullen – have been told to prepare for June too.

These clubs have been permitted to train in groups of 15 since the Level 5 restrictions were eased but it’s understood that a number of the clubs involved in 2020 have decided to suspend their training for the time being following the latest development.

If this does indeed turn out to be the case, the eventual winners of these competitions will face a quick turnaround before the 2021 club championship begins.

But at least the decision will bring some clarity for players and clubs who have been left in limbo since action was halted in late September.

A number of lower grade and juvenile competitions remain outstanding in Laois and it may be possible to play those before June as players would not be affected by the inter-county games.

However, it is believed the GAA will only entertain the possibility of playing club matches when the country is at Level 2 restrictions – something we are a very long way away from right now.

OUTSTANDING FIXTURES

FOOTBALL 

Senior Football (Semi Finals)
Emo v Graiguecullen
Ballyfin v Portarlington

Intermediate Football (Completed)
Clonaslee champions 

Junior ‘A’ Football (Semi Finals)
Portlaoise v The Heath
Park-Ratheniska v Ballyroan-Abbey

Junior ‘B’ Football (Final)
Spink v Graiguecullen

Junior ‘C’ (Final)
Colt v Kilcotton

HURLING 

Senior Hurling (Final)
Borris-Kilcotton v Clough-Ballacolla

Premier Intermediate Hurling (Final)
Portlaoise v The Harps

Intermediate Hurling (Final)
Rathdowney-Errill v Trumera

Junior ‘A’ Hurling (Semi Finals)
The Harps v Castletown
Portlaoise v Abbeyleix

Junior ‘B’ Hurling (Semi Finals)
Camross v Rathdowney-Errill
Portlaoise v The Harps

Junior ‘C’ Hurling (Completed)
Rosenallis champions 

SEE ALSO – Warm tributes paid as legend of handball in Laois passes away

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source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2020/12/18/2020-laois-gaa-club-championship-finals-to-be-delayed-further-with-june-date-for-county-finals/