GAA NEWS:THIS MORNING'S special congress of the GAA at Croke Park is expected to vote Galway and Antrim into the Leinster senior hurling championship for a trial period of three years.
The proposal, brought forward by the Hurling Development Committee, has proved controversial with some of the counties most affected. Wexford, Offaly and Dublin all voted against the plan to expand the provincial championship and some Kilkenny players have publicly stated their opposition, although the county board has been supportive of their county men, HDC chair Ned Quinn and GAA president Nickey Brennan.
Other counties in the province have also supported the HDC and last Monday the Galway County Board decided after an intense debate to accept the idea. Only two speakers addressed the meeting in support of the motion, John Fahey, secretary of the hurling board and senior hurling captain David Collins.
Most of the county's senior administrators voted against, meaning that although the county delegation is mandated to vote in favour there won't be a stream of speakers in support. But it was always possible the proposal would have been passed anyway. As an experiment, it only needs a simple majority to be accepted and Ulster counties are believed to be strongly in favour in support of Antrim, who are keen to develop their championship challenge in Leinster.
Munster counties were also generally in favour, with just Tipperary entering a proviso that Galway should support the HDC.
Other motions from the committee, concerning the expansion of the lower-tier championships by instituting a new trophy name after Lory Meagher to complement the existing Ring and Rackard Cups, will be voted on separately.
There are two other matters due before congress: the disciplinary proposals including the stipulation that players guilty of certain fouls should be ordered off on a yellow card but be replaced by a substitute and the revised burnout proposals that principally encompass the replacement of the under-21 championships with an under-20 grade. Neither of the above ideas has attracted the necessary levels of support, with the under-20 initiative proving particularly unpopular. It is believed the GAA Management Committee will consider withdrawing the motions relating to that proposal.
The fate of the disciplinary proposals is less clear. There has been strong support for the findings of the Disciplinary Task Force from Nickey Brennan, who stated earlier this week: "If we don't pass the motions, it means that as an association we are condoning the notion of persistent fouling."
However a move may be made to strike a compromise on the proposals. Although the weighted majority is likely to be setting the bar too high, there may be a suggestion that the Disciplinary Task Force's initiative be given a trial during the National Leagues.
The task force will be showing a DVD featuring examples of a number of different, disruptive fouls. This has proved quite persuasive when shown in counties and it is hoped it will create an environment favourable to whatever proposals materialise.
Congress is also expected to hear a draft charter to govern relations between county boards and team managements. This follows on from last January's special congress which decided that such a charter be drafted annually by the county chairs, stipulating the availability of players for club fixtures, and which shall be agreed and signed by all county managers in order to eliminate or reduce the potential for disagreement during the inter-county season.
McCarthy on Limerick hurling's agenda
JUSTIN McCARTHY is expected to be named as Limerick's new senior hurling manager next week. The former Waterford manager goes before Tuesday's meeting of the county board for ratification, writes Seán Moran.
Asked to comment on a report in yesterday's Limerick Leader that McCarthy's appointment would be added to the agenda of the next meeting, a county board source said: "The next meeting of the county board is at eight o'clock next Tuesday. It will be on the agenda."
McCarthy was one of a number of candidates - others being the outgoing manager Richie Bennis, Tony Considine, Gerry Molyneaux, Pat Herbert and Eddie Murphy - interviewed by the county's selection committee last week. Considine announced on Thursday he was withdrawing from the process and cited pressure of business.
The Limerick job is one of the most demanding in hurling. McCarthy will be the seventh appointment in eight years.
Bennis led the county to last year's All-Ireland final but the season just finished was a disappointment.
McCarthy most recently led Waterford to their most successful phase in modern times, winning three Munster titles and a National League but failing to reach an All-Ireland final. His departure from Waterford came abruptly in June after a heavy championship defeat by Clare.
