With no pre-season competitions, supporters will have to wait until the last weekend in January to see the new rules, passed in their entirety at a Special Congress last weekend, operating in a competitive environment at inter-county level for the first time.
A repeat of the All-Ireland football final, between champions Armagh and Galway in Salthill, will get the action underway at a newly floodlit Pearse Stadium at 5.15pm that evening.
Mayo will be in Croke Park to play Dublin later that evening, 7.30pm, with RTÉ and TG4 expected to show them in that order.
In between Tyrone, now managed by Malachy O’Rourke, and Derry, under Paddy Tally’s stewardship, will throw in in Omagh at 6pm, a game likely to be broadcast on a BBC platform.
There are significant Division 2 games that evening too. Cavan host Monaghan at 6pm in Kingspan Breffni while Meath are in Cork for their opening game at 5pm as Robbie Brennan starts his inter-county managerial career.
The following day Donegal make the long trek to Killarney to play Kerry, where Michael Murphy is expected to be involved for Donegal after coming out of a two-year retirement.
GAA Football Review Committee chairperson Jim Gavin, centre, alongside Éamonn Fitzmaurice, Colm Collins, Jarlath Burns and Michael Meaney at GAA Special Congress last weekend. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Because of the interest in the new rules, the new seven-team Division 1A hurling group will feel a little squeezed.
Wexford host Cork in the opening game, also at 5pm, in Chadwicks Wexford Park while All-Ireland champions Clare welcome Kilkenny to Cusack Park the following day, Sunday January 26, for a 2pm throw-in. Galway and Tipperary are in action in Pearse Stadium at 3.45pm.
Limerick, who surrendered their All-Ireland crown in the summer, will be the recipients of the first bye of the campaign that weekend.
The following weekend, February 1-2, Armagh will be back in the Athletic Grounds to host Tyrone at 6pm with Dublin in Donegal for a 7.30pm throw-in.
On the same night Limerick get their season underway in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh against Cork, a repeat of their All-Ireland semi-final last summer.
Dublin’s Colm Basquel is tackled by Mayo’s Jack Coyne, left, and Conor Loftus during the All-Ireland SFC Round 3 match at Dr Hyde Park in June. Photo: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Mayo and Galway will provide one of the the showpiece football games on the Sunday afternoon, February 2, throwing in at 3.45pm in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, a game that will be preceded by Derry/Kerry in Celtic Park, 1.45pm. That puts Tally in against Kerry, the team he left for Derry just a few weeks ago, for the first time.
The NHL Division 1 hurling action continues with Kilkenny and Galway in UPMC Nowlan Park at 1.45pm on the Sunday, followed by Tipperary hosting Wexford in FBD Semple Stadium at 3.45pm.
In a new departure, a consequence of seven-team divisions that now require seven weekends to complete, there will be hurling league action over the first three weekends and the games will have the stage to themselves on that third weekend as football takes a break.
Galway will continue to put their new lights to good use, welcoming Clare for a 7.30pm throw-in on Saturday February 8, preceded by Wexford and Kilkenny in Chadwicks Wexford Park at 5.30pm.
The following day the headline game sees Limerick and Tipperary in action in the Gaelic Grounds as Cork sit the weekend out.
The seventh and final round of the group stages of the hurling league will take place on March 22/23.
Hurling league semi-finals have been dispensed with and the Division 1A and 1B finals will be played on the weekend of April 5/6, most likely on the Saturday evening.
Louth footballers will play the majority of their games at Defy Páirc Mhuire in Ardee, which has been their league home in recent years, but they will switch to Inniskeen in Monaghan for their last round game against Meath on Sunday March 23, the venue where they beat their neighbours in the championship for the first time in 49 years earlier this year.
The football league finals will take place on the weekend of March 29/30, a week before the provincial championships start.
The inter-county season follows the same lines as previous years with the All-Ireland football final once again closing out inter-county business on Sunday, July 27.
Referee Liam Gordon throws the sliotar between Cork’s Darragh Fitzgibbon and Conor Hearne of Wexford and Tommy O’Connell of Cork and Shane Reck of Wexford to start the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match last March at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Subject to a motion being passed at Congress next February, the All-Ireland finals will go to a replay if either game finishes level at the end of normal time. This year’s All-Ireland hurling final went to extra-time.
The All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals and the Tailteann Cup semi-finals will again share the same weekend, June 21/22 with a decision to be finalised as to whether the hurling quarter-finals will have the Sunday afternoon slots. It is anticipated that they will, with the Tailteann Cup semi-finals moving to Saturday.
The All-Ireland U-20 football semi-finals and finals have not been been firmly fixed for the weekends of May 10/11 and May 17/18 respectively with the option to played them on the Wednesday night of either week, May 14 and May 21, open to CCCC to seek to facilitate the 60-hour rule.
That’s in place to give players involved in U-20 games an opportunity to play with their senior teams at weekends with U-20 games midweek.
If there is a player involved with his senior team on either of the weekends the semi-finals and finals could move to the midweek slot which, if it requires teams travelling longer distances, could be problematic.
The All-Ireland U-20 hurling final has been fixed for the weekend of May 30/June 1, the same weekend as the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard or Lory Meagher finals but overlapping involvement there with U-20 finalists is most unlikely.
Allianz League Fixtures 2025
Saturday 25 January – Football League Division 1
Galway v Armagh, Pearse Stadium, 5.15
Tyrone v Derry, Healy Park, 6.0
Dublin v Mayo, Croke Park, 7.30
FL Division 2
Cork v Meath, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 5.0
Cavan v Monaghan, Breffni Park, 6.0
FL Division 3
Leitrim v Laois, TBC, 2.30
Kildare v Fermanagh, St Conleth’s Park, 5.0
FL Division 4
Carlow v Tipperary, Cullen Park, 6.0
Wexford v London, Wexford Park, 7.0
Hurling League Division 1A
Wexford v Cork, Wexford Park, 5.0
HL Division 1B
Offaly v Carlow, O’Connor Park, 2.0
Westmeath v Laois, Cusack Park, 2.0
Dublin v Antrim, Croke Park, 5.0
HL Division 2
Down v Kildare, McKenna Park, 2.0
Tyrone v Derry, Healy Park, 4.0
HL Division 3
Mayo v Cavan, MacHale Park, 2.0
HL Division 4
Louth v Fermanagh, Páirc Naomh Bríd, 2.0
Longford v Warwickshire, Pearse Park, 2.0
Lancashire v Leitrim, Abbottstown, 2.0
Sunday 26 January – FL Division 1
Kerry v Donegal, Fitzgerald Stadium, 1.45
FL Division 2
Roscommon v Down, Dr Hyde Park, 2.0
Westmeath v Louth, Cusack Park, 2.0
FL Division 3
Antrim v Clare, Corrigan Park, 1.0
Offaly v Sligo, O’Connor Park, 2.0
FL Division 4
Wicklow v Waterford, Echelon Park, 2.0
Longford v Limerick, Pearse Park, 2.0
HL Division 1A
Clare v Kilkenny, Cusack Park, 2.0
Galway v Tipperary, Pearse Stadium, 3.45
HL Division 2
Meath v Donegal, Trim, 2.0
HL Division 3
London v Roscommon, McGovern Park, 1.0
Sligo v Wicklow, Markievicz Park, 2.0
Saturday 1 February – FL Division 1
Armagh v Tyrone, Athletic Grounds, 6.0
Donegal v Dublin, MacCumhaill Park, 7.30
FL Division 4
Tipperary v Longford, Semple Stadium, 5.0
HL Division 1A
Cork v Limerick, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7.30
HL Division 1B
Carlow v Waterford, Cullen Park, 6.0
HL Division 2
Kildare v Kerry, St Conleth’s Park. 1.0
Derry v Down, Owenbeg, 2.0
HL Division 3
Wicklow v London, Echelon Park, 1.0
Cavan v Sligo, Breffni Park, 3.0
HL Division 4
Monaghan v Louth, TBC, 2.0
Sunday 2 February – FL Division 1
Derry v Kerry, Celtic Park, 1.45
Mayo v Galway, MacHale Park, 3.45
FL Division 2
Down v Cork, Páirc Esler, 1.0
Louth v Roscommon, Pairc Mhuire, 2.0
Meath v Cavan, Páirc Tailteann, 2.0
Monaghan v Westmeath, St Tiernach’s Park, 2.0
FL Division 3
Clare v Leitrim, Cusack Park, 2.0
Sligo v Kildare, Markievicz Park, 2.0
Fermanagh v Antrim, St Josephs GAA, 2.30
Laois v Offaly, O’Moore Park, 4.0
FL Division 4
London v Wicklow, McGovern Park, 12.30
Waterford v Carlow, Fraher Field, 2.0
Limerick v Wexford, Mick Neville Park, 2.0
HL Division 1A
Kilkenny v Galway, Nowlan Park, 1.45
Tipperary v Wexford, Semple Stadium, 3.45
HL Division 1B
Antrim v Westmeath, Corrigan Park, 2.0
Laois v Offaly, O’Moore Park, 2.0
HL Division 2
Donegal v Tyrone, O’Donnell Park, 2.0
HL Division 3
Roscommon v Armagh, Dr Hyde Park, 2.0
HL Division 4
Fermanagh v Longford, TBC, 1.0
Warwickshire v Lancashire, Páirc na hÉireann, 2.0
Saturday 8 February – HL Division 1A
Wexford v Kilkenny, Wexford Park, 5.30
Galway v Clare, Pearse Stadium, 7.30
HL Division 4
Warwickshire v Louth, Páirc na hÉireann, 2.0
Leitrim v Longford, Shane McGettigan Park, 2.0
Sunday 9 February – HL Division 1A
Limerick v Tipperary, Gaelic Grounds, 3.45
HL Division 1B
Offaly v Antrim, O’Connor Park, 1.45
Waterford v Laois, Walsh Park, 2.0
Westmeath v Dublin, Cusack Park, 2.0
HL Division 2
Kerry v Derry, Austin Stack Park, 1.0
Down v Donegal, McKenna Park, 2.0
Tyrone v Meath, Eoghain Ruadh, 2.0
HL Division 3
London v Cavan, McGovern Park, 1.0
Armagh v Wicklow, Athletic Grounds, 2.0
Sligo v Mayo, Markievicz Park, 2.0
HL Division 4
Fermanagh v Monaghan, Brewster Park, 2.0
Saturday 15 February – FL Division 1
Derry v Galway, Celtic Park, 5.0
Kerry v Dublin, Austin Stack Park, 7.30
FL Division 2
Cork v Westmeath, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 5.0
Down v Meath, Páirc Esler, 6.0
FL Division 4
Waterford v Tipperary, Fraher Field, 6.30
Wexford v Carlow, Wexford Park, 7.0
Sunday 16 February – FL Division 1
Mayo v Tyrone, MacHale Park, 1.45
Donegal v Armagh, MacCumhaill Park, 3.45
FL Division 2
Cavan v Louth, Breffni Park, 2.0
Roscommon v Monaghan, Dr Hyde Park, 2.0
FL Division 3
Clare v Fermanagh, Cusack Park 1.30
Leitrim v Kildare, TBC 2.0
Offaly v Antrim, O’Connor Park, 2.0
Laois v Sligo, O’Moore Park, 2.0
FL Division 4
London v Limerick, McGovern Park, 12.30
Wicklow v Longford, Echelon Park, 2.0
Saturday 22 February – FL Division 1
Armagh v Mayo, Athletic Grounds, 5.0
Dublin v Derry, Croke Park, 7.30
FL Division 3
Antrim v Leitrim, Corrigan Park, 2.30
Kildare v Laois, St Conleth’s Park, 7.0
FL Division 4
Tipperary v London, Semple Stadium, 5.0
Carlow v Limerick, Cullen Park, 6.0
HL Division 1A
Tipperary v Cork, Semple Stadium, 7.30
HL Division 1B
Dublin v Offaly, Croke Park, 5.0
HL Division 2
Derry v Kildare, Owenbeg, 3.0
HL Division 3
Mayo v London, MacHale Park, 6.0
HL Division 4
Longford v Lancashire, Pearse Park, 2.0
Monaghan v Warwickshire, TBC. 2.0
Sunday 23 February – FL Division 1
Tyrone v Kerry, Healy Park, 1.45
Galway v Donegal, Pearse Stadium, 3.45
FL Division 2
Monaghan v Cork, St Tiernach’s Park, 1.30
Westmeath v Cavan, Cusack Park, 2.0
Louth v Down, Pairc Mhuire, 2.30
Meath v Roscommon, Páirc Tailteann, 2.30
FL Division 3
Sligo v Clare, Markievicz Park, 1.30
Fermanagh v Offaly, Brewster Park, 2.0
FL Division 4
Longford v Waterford, Pearse Park, 1.0
Wexford v Wicklow, Wexford Park 2.0
HL Division 1A
Clare v Wexford, Cusack Park, 1.45
Kilkenny v Limerick, Nowlan Park, 1.45
HL Division 1B
Antrim v Waterford, Corrigan Park, 1.30
Laois v Carlow, O’Moore Park, 2.0
HL Division 2
Donegal v Kerry, O’Donnell Park, 1.0
Meath v Down, Trim, 1.15
HL Division 3
Cavan v Armagh, Breffni Park, 2.0
Wicklow v Roscommon, Echelon Park, 2.0
HL Division 4
Louth v Leitrim, Páirc Naomh Bríd, 1.15
Saturday 1 March – FL Division 1
Mayo v Kerry, MacHale Park, 5.0
Armagh v Dublin, Athletic Grounds, 7.35
FL Division 2
Cavan v Down, Breffni Park, 6.0
Cork v Roscommon, Páirc Uí Chaoimh 7.0
FL Division 3
Laois v Antrim, O’Moore Park, 5.0
Fermanagh v Sligo, Brewster Park, 6.0
FL Division 4
Limerick v Tipperary, Mick Neville Park, 6.0
Waterford v Wexford, Fraher Field, 6.30
HL Division 1A
Cork v Kilkenny, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 5.0
Wexford v Galway, Wexford Park, 5.0
HL Division 2
Kerry v Meath, Austin Stack Park, 3.30
HL Division 4
Lancashire v Louth, Abbottstown, 2.0
Leitrim v Monaghan, Shane McGettigan Park, 2.0
Sunday 2 March – FL Division 1
Donegal v Derry, Ballyshannon, 1.45
Galway v Tyrone, Tuam Stadium, 1.45
FL Division 2
Louth v Monaghan, Pairc Mhuire, 2.0
Westmeath v Meath, Cusack Park, 2.0
FL Division 3
Clare v Kildare, Cusack Park, 2.0
Leitrim v Offaly, TBC, 2.0
FL Division 4
London v Longford, McGovern Park, 1.0
Wicklow v Carlow, Echelon Park, 2.0
HL Division 1A
Limerick v Clare, Gaelic Grounds, 3.45
HL Division 1B
Offaly v Westmeath, O’Connor Park, 2.0
Waterford v Dublin, Walsh Park, 2.0
Carlow v Antrim, Cullen Park, 2.30
HL Division 2
Down v Tyrone, McKenna Park, 2.0
Kildare v Donegal, St Conleth’s Park, 2.0
HL Division 3
Cavan v Wicklow, Breffni Park, 2.0
Mayo v Roscommon, MacHale Park, 2.0
Sligo v Armagh, Markievicz Park, 2.30
HL Division 4
Warwickshire v Fermanagh, Páirc na hÉireann, 2.0
Saturday 8 March – HL Division 1A
Limerick v Galway, Gaelic Grounds, 7.30
HL Division 1B
Dublin v Carlow, Parnell Park, 6.0
HL Division 2
Kildare v Tyrone, St Conleth’s Park, 3.0
Derry v Meath, Owenbeg, 4.0
HL Division 3
Roscommon v Cavan, Dr Hyde Park, 2.0
HL Division 4
Monaghan v Lancashire, TBC, 2.0
Fermanagh v Leitrim, Brewster Park, 2.0
Louth v Longford, Páirc Naomh Bríd, 2.0
Sunday 9 March – HL Division 1A
Kilkenny v Tipperary, Nowlan Park, 1.15
Clare v Cork, Cusack Park, 3.15
HL Division 1B
Antrim v Laois, Ballycastle, 12.30
Westmeath v Waterford, Cusack Park, 2.0
HL Division 2
Kerry v Down, Austin Stack Park, 1.0
HL Division 3
London v Sligo, McGovern Park, 1.0
Armagh v Mayo, Athletic Grounds, 2.0
Saturday 15 March – FL Division 1
Kerry v Armagh, Austin Stack Park, 5.30
Dublin v Galway, Croke Park, 7.30
FL Division 2
Down v Westmeath, Páirc Esler, 6.0
FL Division 3
Laois v Clare, O’Moore Park, 6.0
FL Division 4
Carlow v Longford, Cullen Park 5.0
Wexford v Tipperary, Wexford Park, 6.30
Waterford v London, Fraher Field, 7.0
Sunday 16 March – FL Division 1
Derry v Mayo, Celtic Park, 1.30
Donegal v Tyrone, O’Donnell Park, 3.30
FL Division 2
Cork v Louth, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2.0
Meath v Monaghan, Páirc Tailteann, 2.0
Roscommon v Cavan, Dr Hyde Park, 2.0
FL Division 3
Antrim v Sligo, Corrigan Park, 2.0
Leitrim v Fermanagh, TBC, 2.0
Offaly v Kildare, O’Connor Park, 2.0
FL Division 4
Wicklow v Limerick, Echelon Park, 2.0
Saturday 22 March – HL Division 1A
Cork v Galway, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7.30
Limerick v Wexford, Gaelic Grounds, 7.30
Tipperary v Clare, Semple Stadium, 7.30
HL Division 1B
Carlow v Westmeath, Cullen Park, 5.0
Waterford v Offaly, Fraher Field, 5.0
Laois v Dublin, O’Moore Park 5.0
HL Division 2
Donegal v Derry, O’Donnell Park, 2.30
Meath v Kildare, Trim, 2.30
Tyrone v Kerry, Pairc Colmcille, 2.30
HL Division 3
Armagh v London, Athletic Grounds, 2.30
Roscommon v Sligo, Dr Hyde Park, 2.30
Wicklow v Mayo, Echelon Park, 2.30
HL Division 4
Longford v Monaghan, Pearse Park, 2.0
Lancashire v Fermanagh, Abbottstown, 2.0
Leitrim v Warwickshire, Shane McGettigan Park, 2.0
Sunday 23 March – FL Division 1
Armagh v Derry, Athletic Grounds, 3.45
Galway v Kerry, Pearse Stadium, 3.45
Tyrone v Dublin, Healy Park, 3.45
Mayo v Donegal, MacHale Park, 3.45
FL Division 2
Cavan v Cork, Breffni Park, 1.30
Louth v Meath, Inniskeen, 1.30
Monaghan v Down, St Tiernach’s Park, 1.30
Westmeath v Roscommon, Cusack Park, 1.30
FL Division 3
Clare v Offaly, Cusack Park, 2.0
Fermanagh v Laois, Brewster Park, 2.0
Kildare v Antrim, St Conleth’s Park, 2.0
Sligo v Leitrim, Markievicz Park, 2.0
FL Division 4
Limerick v Waterford, Mick Neville Park, 1.0
London v Carlow, McGovern Park, 1.0
Longford v Wexford, Pearse Park, 1.0
Tipperary v Wicklow, Semple Stadium, 1.0
