Hurling 'Super-12' proposed

The GAA has released a draft document which recommends radical changes to both the football and hurling championships. Significantly, the report contains the Hurling Development Committee (HDC) proposals for the championship's structures.

They have recommended that the senior hurling format be confined to 12 teams, comprising five from both Leinster and Munster, the Ulster champions and Galway. A new qualifying structure of two four-team groups would also be introduced.

The HDC was set up to address the lopsided nature of the current championship. It contains several of hurling's most respected names - such as Ger Loughnane, Cyril Farrell, Liam Griffin and Nicky English.

They presented the hurling section to the fixtures task force, which is under the chairmanship of Pauric Duffy.

The major stumbling block of involving the Ulster teams and Galway in a more exclusive set-up, without attempting to dissolve the current provincial championships, appears to have been achieved.

The beaten first-round teams and semi-finalists in the Munster and Leinster Championships shall enter a qualifier draw with Galway and the winners of Ulster.

The eight teams will be divided into two groups of four on the basis of an open draw, guaranteeing each team four matches in the championship - except Galway who will have a minimum of three.

The two top teams in these groups will go forward to contest the quarter-finals against the Leinster and Munster provincial winners and runners-up.

However, the report already has failed to receive widespread support, with Antrim manager Dinny Cahill condemning the initial draft. He feels the Ulster clubs will struggle to adequately complete their club championship because of the fixture congestion at inter-county level.

"It's making very little of Ulster hurling," said Cahill. "It is only for TV and the papers. If you don't play at club level players will not be produced.

"The whole idea defeats the chances of a county, like Down, bringing up young players."

The format would see a new three-tier system come into place, where promotion and relegation would exist.

The last four sides in the qualifiers will go into a relegation play-off, with the eventual loser moving down to the Intermediate championship, which would contain 10 teams. The Junior championship would contain 12 teams.

For Galway, the potential revamp means more matches against the elite hurling counties. "It probably evens it up for us," said manager Conor Hayes. "We have been a game or two behind the other top counties. More games can only be an improvement."

Further recommendations would see increased opportunities for developing counties to play in conjunction with senior championship games.

In football, a separate championship would be set up for counties which do not progress beyond the second round of the qualifiers.

The final of this competition would be played, "as a curtain-raiser to a game in the closing stages of the All-Ireland senior football championship series".

Other suggested changes by the task force are for home venues to be used in rounds three and four of the football qualifiers, teams to have at least seven days (except in the case of replays) between championship games, while teams defeated in the provincial decider would get at least a 13-day break.

It also calls for an end to the All-Ireland minor quarter-finals and for the under-21 championships not to begin before the second weekend in March, with the final to be played on the second Saturday in May.

The task force suggested that the competition structures adopted should operate without change from 2005 to 2009, with a further review then.

The report has been sent to the provincial councils and a final draft will be submitted to Central Council in December.

Meanwhile, the Irish International Rules squad departs for Australia today without another vastly experienced player after Trevor Giles pulled out with a groin injury.

The Meath forward's loss is incalculable, as he was a senior member of the side, and was captain in 2000. Dublin's Shane Ryan replaces Giles, to bring the number of new faces in the squad to 16. The first Test will take place in Perth next Friday.

GAA president Seán Kelly has confirmed that the final of the 2003 interprovincial hurling championship will be played in Rome on November 8th.The finalists will fly out of Dublin on Friday, November 7th, and return on Monday.

Both hurling semi-finals take place this weekend, with Munster playing Connacht at the Gaelic Grounds today (3.0) and Leinster travelling to Casement Park to meet Ulster tomorrow, also 3.0. n The Senior Hurling Championship to be confined to 12 teams with a qualifier structure comprising two groups, with four teams in each. (Galway and Ulster champions included)

A separate Intermediate Hurling Championship (10 teams) and Junior Hurling Championship (12 teams) be organised

A separate football championship to be introduced for designated counties knocked out in rounds one and two of the current qualifier system.

B championship to be played as curtain-raisers to games in the concluding stages of the senior All-Ireland series