IN HIS inaugural speech to Congress on Saturday, incoming GAA president Joe McDonagh announced his intention to appoint a football development committee to consider changes to the game.

McDonagh stressed he didn't believe football was in crisis, but he nevertheless felt the committee's task "was more urgent and difficult" than the hurling equivalent's.

"It's going to be a very comprehensive and consultative process," he said at a press conference afterwards, "because we're involving officials, administrators, coaches, managers and players in this consultative process. It had been mooted at a previous Central Council meeting that we would have a national football conference.

"I imagine we're going to have quite a few but what I would like to do is expedite this process and let the committee embark upon its work immediately. I would hope we will have practical reports on the table within a year.

The committee will be chaired by Munster Council chairman Noel Walsh of Clare, who campaigned for many years for the open draw in Munster, his persistence eventually paying off in 1970. He was a selector in 1992 when Clare won their first provincial football title since 1917.

He will be joined by some well known names - Cork's All Ireland under 21 winning manager Bob Honohan; Kerry county secretary Tony O'Keeffe; All Ireland winning Meath player and commentator Colm O'Rourke; All Ireland winning player and manager Pat O'Neill from Dublin; All Ireland winning Offaly manager, former Ireland coach and journalist Eugene McGee; Galway's All Ireland winning Liam Sammon; former Donegal and Mayo footballer and coach Martin Carney; Donegal officer Danny McNamee; and Fermanagh footballer and commentator Peter McGinnity.

The body was one of four new committees established by McDonagh. The others concern club administration, the involvement of women in the GAA and the developing nature of communications technology.

Of the chairmen assigned to major committees, Frank Murphy's appointment to head the Games Administration Committee will be among the most significant. The Cork County Board secretary was instrumental in piloting through the hurling reforms last year. As a full time official, he is not thought to be harbouring any presidential ambitions.

Other major appointments include Longford's Albert Fallon to the chair of the coaching and games development committee, Frank Burke of Galway to the hurling development committee and Monaghan's Sean McCague to the policy and planning committee.

The new committees will be called national club leadership and administration work group (chaired by Liam O'Neill of Laois; increased participation work group (chaired by Liz Howard of Tipperary) and national communications and information technology work group (chaired by Nicky Brennan of Kilkenny).

The increased participation work group is designed to review the association's relationship with women. "For too long," said McDonagh in his speech, "we have blamed female teachers for the decline of the games in our schools. I would like to turn that on its head and encourage more women to become involved as they are every bit as capable of becoming involved in coaching.

"The committee will focus on the increased participation of women in all aspects of the association and will include relations with camogie and women's football." Sile Wallace and Helen O'Rourke, representing the two games, have been appointed to the committee.