GAA: New football rules likely to dominate 2025 season
There will be little respite in the Football League, with Armagh facing Tyrone in their second-round tie at the Sports Ground on Saturday, February 1, the same night Murphy and his team-mates face the Warriors at Ballybofey.
Teams will compete on seven of nine weekends starting at the end of January, leading up to the final round of matches on the weekend of March 22-23, with the league final taking place a week later.
After what happens in 2024, would Donegal, and Derry in particular, be willing to play in a Division One final a week before the Ulster Championship opener in Ballybofey?
All-Ireland champions Armagh face Antrim away in the provincial opener a week later, with Cavan hosting Tyrone and Down against Fermanagh on the same weekend.
The winner of Donegal v Derry will face Monaghan on April 19 and 20, with the quarter-final winners having just one week to prepare for the provincial semi-finals against Morne County or Erne County.
The other Ulster semi-final will be between Antrim or Armagh and Cavan or Tyrone, also on the weekend of April 26-27, with the provincial final scheduled for May 11 held.
The group stages of the All-Ireland Championship start in a week’s time and, despite some complaints, the format remains unchanged from past seasons.
Knockout football will begin with the quarter-finals on June 21 and 22, with Sam Maguire’s fixtures due to end on July 27, but if a motion for their return is passed at next February’s GAA general meeting , there may be a rematch in two weeks.
