INITIAL steps to avoid clashes of major GAA championship matches next summer will be taken at Croke Park this evening when the secretaries of the four provincial councils meet to discuss a busy schedule.

The meeting assumes greater urgency than ever before as a result of the new arrangement for a calendar year National Hurling League programme which will run from March, to October.

The four provincial secretaries, Mick Delaney (Leinster), Donie Nealon (Munster), Michael Feeney (Ulster) and John Prenty (Connacht) will largely concern themselves with efforts to avoid clashes of prime fixtures where live television coverage is likely.

Attention will be given to appealing early round football ties such as Meath v Dublin, Mayo v Galway and Tyrone v Down, and also to crucial Hurling League matches in early summer.

Meanwhile, Trevor Giles of Meath and Larry O'Gorman of Wexford were presented with their GAA Writers Association Player of the Year awards at a function sponsored by Guinness yesterday.

Giles was taking over the mantle of last year's football winner Peter Canavan (Tyrone) while O'Gorman succeeds Brian Lohan of Clare as the top hurler. Martin O'Connell of Meath and Liam McHale of Mayo were the other nominees for the football award Martin Storey and Ciaran Carey also nominated in hurling.

The young footballer of the year award went to Meath full back Darren Fay. Limerick's Mark Foley took the corresponding award in hurling.