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Kerry team in the parade before the Munster final this year. Photo by Dermot Crean
THE GAA announced their Master fixtures programme for 2018 and one of the most interesting aspects of it is that the Munster senior football final will be played on a Saturday night on June 23.
Meanwhile, Tralee is the venue for two Allianz National Football League games with Kerry v Galway on Sunday, February 25 at 2.30pm, while on St Patrick’s Day, Kerry welcome Kildare for a 7pm throw-in.
The other home game is the opener against Donegal in Killarney on Sunday, January 28. The away games will require a bit of a drive to Mayo (February 3), Monaghan (February 11), Dublin (March 3) and Tyrone (March 25).
The Kerry hurlers will have a trip to London for their Division 2A opener on January 28. They play at home the following week, February 4, against Carlow, away to Kildare on February 17, home to Meath on February 25, away to Westmeath on March 4,
With regard to the date of the Munster football final, the GAA “felt that it was a good time to experiment with a Provincial Final on a Saturday night. It again offers a good promotional and marketing opportunity.”
It will be reviewed next year but this is envisioned as being part of a three year experimental rota with Leinster and Ulster, whereby if required, one of those provinces would also look at playing a Provincial Football final on a Saturday night in the coming years.
Stupid GAA