Meath for February NFL and NHL action - club set for July
Meath footballers will return to competitive action on the last weekend in February in the four-team NFL Div 2 North with 2 South comprising the other four teams.
There will be three group games followed by either a promotion or a relegation semi-final and then a promotion final guaranteeing a minimum of four games, the losers in the relegation semi-finals will be relegated.
Meath hurlers will compete in the same format Div 2A as 2020 with the top two contesting the final.
Meath club hurling and football championships will begin at the end of July.
2021 CHAMPIONSHIPS
A Provincial knock-out Championships with back-door qualifier system and Tailteann Cup, mo Round Robin quarter finals
New York NOT involved in Connacht Championship as this will take place in early April and impossible to plan for this currently – decision on participation in Tailteann Cup to be made subject to restrictions (Tailteann date if they are involved is 16th May)
Round 1 of Qualifiers (if required) to be limited to teams that did not make their provincial semi-finals
London participation to be a matter for Connacht Council based on restrictions (date is 17/18 April if they are to be involved)
2021 TAILTEANN CUP
For teams in Div 3 and 4 of the football league at the end of the 2021 league season (i.e. AFTER promotion/relegation process), that DO NOT reach their respective Provincial Finals
Preliminary Round(s) to be organized if more than 16 eligible teams
Rounds – Prelim Round (if required), Round 1, Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Final
Semi Finals on Sunday June 6th – Croke Park double header; will be only significant games in the calendar on that date
Final to be a curtainraiser to the All Ireland Hurling Semi Final on June 26/27
2021 LIAM MAC CARTHY CUP
Provincial knock-out Championships with back-door qualifier system (as in 2020) but with introduction of relegation to McDonagh Cup
Munster – Limerick, Waterford, Tipperary, Clare, Cork
Leinster – Kilkenny, Galway, Wexford, Dublin, Laois, Antrim
There will be a preliminary round in the qualifiers between the two defeated Quarter final teams.
Winners progress to Qualifiers Rd 1 – Losers to McDonagh Cup 2022
2021 TIER 2 HC TIER 3 HC, TIER 4 HC, TIER 5 HC
McDonagh Cup, Ring Cup, Rackard Cup and Meagher Cup
Recommending McDonagh Cup winners promoted in 2021 but do not have a back door into Liam Mac Carthy
McDonagh Cup and LSHC Final to be on Saturday, 22nd May to ensure Live TV coverage of Mc Donagh Cup final.
McDonagh Cup: Kerry, Westmeath, Meath, Carlow, Kildare, Down
Ring Cup: Roscommon, Sligo, Wicklow, Derry, Offaly, London
Rackard Cup: Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim, Armagh, Tyrone, Warwickshire
Meagher Cup: Monaghan, Longford, Louth, Cavan, Fermanagh, Lancashire
IF British teams ARE NOT PARTICIPATING in Ring, Rackard & Meagher – alternative competition structures will be put in place.
UNDER-20 Football
Provincial Knock-out competition
No U-20 league
Window for Championship 27/28 March to 1st/2nd May (6 weekends)
UNDER-20 Hurling
Provincial Knock-out competition
No All Ireland Semi-Finals – All Ireland final is Leinster Winners v Munster Winners
Window for Championship May 22nd/23rd (with break for Leaving Cert) to AI Final on 10/11 July
All Ireland final as curtain raiser to All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final
U-20 B Hurling similar window (final on July 3rd)
MINOR FOOTBALL AND HURLING
Window – 20/21st March to 22/23 May
All knock-out games in the above subject to finish on the day regulations
EXCEPTION: All Ireland Senior Football and Hurling Finals (Tier 1), which will have extra time, but will be finish on the day in the event of a replay only.
2021 CLUB ACTION
Club competitions – largely without County players – can take place in the Spring and early summer months covid regulations permitting.
Uninterrupted main Club Championship Window from July 24/25 to Oct 23/24
Provincial Club Championship window primarily from 16/17 Oct to Nov 27/28
All Ireland Club Championship semi-finals in December
2021 All Ireland Club finals to take place in January 2022