GAELIC GAMES: Seán Moranexpects a busy time at next month's Annual Congress in Newcastle, Co Down, with over 123 proposals tabled
THE MOTIONS list for next month’s Congress in Newcastle, Co Down, is one of the biggest in recent memory, with 123 proposals tabled. As this is a year for playing rules reform, the first 49 are concerned with proposals in that area, including the experimental rules currently being trialled in the National Leagues.
These are by this stage well-known – among them the mark, the more restrictive interpretation of the hand pass and playing on at the end of each half until the ball has gone dead – and are all proposed by Central Council.
Other suggestions submitted by clubs and other units include the following:
The introduction of a hooter, as in women’s football and international rules, to signal the end of a half or the match (this would have the added benefit should the current experiment of playing on until the ball goes dead be accepted, of letting players know time is up – as again applies in international rules).
– Clonard, Wexford
That yellow and red cards be scrapped for hurling but not football.
– Glen Rovers, Cork
Two points to be awarded when a sideline cut is put over the bar in hurling.
– Toomevara, Tipperary and Armagh Harps, Armagh
Making gum shields compulsory in all matches and training sessions.
– Westport, Mayo
That video referees be appointed from senior provincial finals up to All-Ireland finals.
– Fr Sheehy’s, Tipperary
Motions 50-123 concern more general issues, including the recognition of the Gaelic Players Association, consequent on last November’s agreement between the GPA and Croke Park, providing for the players’ body to come under the Croke Park umbrella and for it to receive funding for welfare initiatives. That accord still has to be approved by congress but is recommended by motion 51, put forward by Central Council.
Another motion from Croke Park concerns the hurling championship, which was thrown out of kilter by a proposal accepted at last year’s congress advocating the promotion of the Christy Ring Cup winners into the following year’s MacCarthy Cup.
Under the new proposals, drawn up after an extensive consultation with the counties, there will be no relegation between the various tiers this year or in 2011 and 2012. Ring Cup winners may opt to contest the following season’s MacCarthy Cup, which as a result could expand to 16 teams by 2012.
There are also five motions calling on the use of Croke Park by other sports to be permanently policed by Central Council rather than require a motion to congress should a request be received from the FAI, IRFU or other organisations.
Other general proposals include the following:
A second chance for provincial champions in the All-Ireland qualifiers.
– County board, Tyrone and St Joseph’s-O’Connell Boys/Naomh Olaf, Dublin
Abolition of the qualifiers in the minor football championship.
– Central Council
Open draw in the All-Ireland minor and under-21 championships.
– Trim, Meath
Abolition of the All-Ireland junior championships and the All-Ireland intermediate hurling championship (there is no football championship at this level).
– Central Council
Match bans instead of time bans to be introduced.
– Grattan Óg, Longford
The practice of the Central Competitions Control Committee of referring matters back to a match referee for video re-appraisal to be scrapped and the CCCC take over the function of video review for incidents not seen by the match referee or where the incidents are considered more serious than deemed by him.
– Legan Sarsfields, Longford
