Extra-time introduced for knock-out stages of all National Competitions
Cork will begin the defence of their All-Ireland championship on June 20th when they travel to play Galway in the opening round of the Liberty Insurance championship as announced in the 2015 National Fixtures plan.
All-Ireland finalists Kilkenny begin their campaign with a home tie against Clare on June 27th while Limerick, who won this year’s Intermediate crown and compete in the Senior championship next season, face Offaly in their opening round tie.
The 2015 Liberty Insurance All-Ireland finals will take place on Sunday, September 13th in Croke Park.
The semi-final stages of the AIB All-Ireland Camogie Club championships take place on February 1st with Oulart-the-Ballagh (Wexford) playing Loughgiel (Antrim) and Mullagh (Galway) facing current champions Milford (Cork) in the senior grade while in the Intermediate series Piltown (Kilkenny) face Clonduff (Down) and Oranmore Maree (Galway) play current champions Lismore (Waterford). The AIB All-Ireland Club Finals take place on March 1st 2015.
The Irish Daily Star Leagues commence on February 21st with Clare and Cork the highlight on the opening weekend of the Division One grade. The Irish Daily Star League Finals in all four divisions will take place on Sunday May 3rd.
Two new elements have also been introduced to the 2015 National Fixtures schedule following a meeting of the Association’s Ard Chomhairle on November 29th. A decision was taken to assist in freeing up dates for fixtures at county level by avoiding play-offs to determine group positioning and also, in so far as is possible, to determine results on the day of the original fixture.
Across all national competitions, quarter-finals and semi-finals will automatically go to extra time if teams are drawn after normal playing time. If teams are still drawn after extra time, only then will the fixture go to a replay.
All-Ireland Finals are the only games that will automatically go to a replay if teams are level at the end of normal playing time. This new system will be introduced for one year initially.
To avoid play-offs, a system based on head-to-head results will be introduced to rank teams who finish on equal points in a group when two teams can progress to the further stages of a competition. For example, the top two in a group go into the semi-finals or the second and third placed go into the semi-finals.
