No new agenda on discipline

THE GAA has decided against bringing any disciplinary measures before next year’s congress. It had been expected after the narrow failure to secure a two-thirds majority last April that the GAA would return with revised proposals given the broad support for the experimental rules trialled during last season’s National Leagues.

But speaking yesterday association president Christy Cooney said that last Saturday’s Central Council meeting had taken the decision not to proceed with any further proposals.

“Central Council after reviewing this year’s championship didn’t deem it necessary to bring forward a new disciplinary package. We will of course be asking referees to penalise very strongly foul play according to rule. But we have been encouraged by the levels of sportsmanship which were outstanding.”

The development will come as a surprise to many of those who had pushed for reforms at congress earlier this year.

Despite opposition from a number of high-profile county managers the statistical research supporting the reforms was very persuasive and although there have been no high-profile outbreaks of indiscipline and disorder there is little evidence to suggest that cynical fouling has decreased dramatically.