GAA to debate reforms

Today at Croke Park, the GAA meets in special congress to decide the fate of a number of proposals to reform the intercounty championships and tighten the amount of time the season takes, to free up extra weekends for club activity.

The package of proposals, brought forward by the Football Competitions Review Task Force and the Hurling Development Committee, for consideration both by Central Council and congress include the penalising of counties who persist in suspending club fixtures to facilitate the county team, a reversion to strictly hierarchical National League structures, the reduction of play-off stages and the thinning of the football championship qualifier structure by requiring teams in Division Four to contest the Tommy Murphy Cup once eliminated from the provincial championship, unless they reach the final.

It will also be decided whether the new structures should take effect next year or in 2008 when counties have had a chance to influence their National League standings.

Meanwhile, it has been disclosed that former Cork hurler Setanta Ó hAilpín will not be available for the International Rules series because of injury.

Ó hAilpín, now on the books of AFL club Carlton, has experience of the series from playing two years ago. The Ireland preliminary panel, under manager Seán Boylan, are currently on a training camp in France, based at the Stade Toulousain rugby club.

Contrary to a report in yesterday's paper, former Limerick hurler Pat Herbert was not interviewed for the Wexford managerial vacancy, subsequently filled by John Meyler. Herbert was approached by both Wexford and Limerick concerning his possible availability for the vacancies in the counties, but because of club commitments he had declined both approaches.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL ALL STARS NOMINATIONS

GOALKEEPERS: Katrina Connolly (Sligo), Fionnuala McAtamney (Armagh), Irene Munnelly (Meath); DEFENDERS: Rena Buckley (Cork), Aoibheann Daly (Galway), Sinéad Dooley (Meath), Gráinne Ní Fhlatharta (Kerry), Emer Flaherty (Galway), Patrica Fogarty (Laois), Rebecca Hallahan (Waterford), Maire Kelly, Tyrone, Caoimhe Marley (Armagh), Ann Marie McDonagh (Galway), Louise McKeever (Meath), Lorraine Muckian (Laois), Marie O'Connell (Galway), Bronagh O'Donnell (Armagh), Bríd Stack (Cork), Leona Tector (Wexford), Sharon Tracey (Longford), Angela Walsh (Cork); MIDFIELD: Claire Egan (Mayo), Norita Kelly (Cork), Juliet Murphy (Cork), Alma O'Donnell (Armagh), Mary O'Donnell (Waterford), Caroline O'Hanlon (Armagh); FORWARDS: Sinéad Ahearne (Dublin), Nollaig Cleary (Cork), Geraldine Doherty (Meath), Christina Heffernan (Mayo), Gillian Joyce (Galway), Martha Kirwin (Laois), Tracy Lawlor (Laois), Brianne Leahy (Kildare), Aileen Matthews (Armagh), Trina McNicholas (Mayo), Valerie Mulcahy (Cork), Gráinne Nulty (Meath), Dympna O'Brien (Limerick), Mary O'Connor (Cork), Sarah O'Connor (Kerry), Cora Staunton (Mayo), Bronagh Sheridan (Cavan), Mairead Tennyson (Armagh).