Next year’s All-Ireland finals "are likely to be on the last two Sundays in August" following Gaelic Athletic Association Annual Congress’ "landmark Championship restructuring" over the weekend, according to Peter Sweeney of RTÉ. The GAA's highest authority "voted on Saturday to bring two of the biggest days in the Irish sporting calendar forward by three weeks." GAA Dir General Páraic Duffy confirmed the "showpiece" events are "most likely" to be on Aug. 19 and 26 -- "with a chance that football will take place before hurling." Duffy: "The last two Sundays are what we are thinking of -- there is no reason why it can’t be done." The All-Ireland's traditional slots "are the first and third Sundays in September" (RTÉ, 2/27). RTÉ reported former Gaelic footballer Oisín McConville believes that the Gaelic Players Association "left it much too late" to voice its opposition to the GAA’s new Super 8 initiative, which will replace the All-Ireland quarterfinals. The motion to introduce the Super 8 was passed at Congress over the weekend. McConville said, "The GPA have completely slept in on this" (RTÉ, 2/27).