Intercounty matches set to be decided on the day from 2022

All matches in next year’s intercounty championships apart from All-Ireland finals are set to be decided on the day.

The decision was taken by Saturday’s Central Council meeting and will go to February’s annual congress for approval as a permanent rule change.

Result on the day protocols were introduced to take the pressure off fixture makers by eliminating replays. Provincial finals and All-Ireland semi-finals also had previously been designated as exceptions, but will no longer be so.

Result on the day means extra time and shoot-outs to decide the outcome.

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If this proposal is accepted by congress, it will take effect from next year.

The GAA has also decided to reinstitute its pre-season tournaments. Competitions, such as the McKenna Cup football in Ulster and Leinster hurling’s Walsh Cup were green-lighted - for no earlier than January 1st - after initially being excluded from the proposed new calendar.

The Fixtures Calendar Review task force had recommended their abolition for the new split season, which will see the All-Irelands concluded by the end of July next year but with the reduction in the envisaged closed season - originally due to run until January 1st - and a general desire for pre-season warm-ups, it was decided that the competitions should be retained.

Without these matches it was felt that counties would be looking for challenge matches anyway and that structured fixtures would be more desireable.

The provinces will draw up the schedules in the next week or so.

Other matters were also decided on Saturday: "Congress 2022 will take place in the Connacht GAA Dome, Bekan, Co Mayo.

“Ard Chomhairle agreed to submit Motions to Congress 2022 on foot of proposals from the Standing Committee on Playing Rules, the sliotar workgroup and Games Development Committee and also approved a Motion to allow another player to join the captain for acceptance of the trophy on behalf of the team.

“The Code of Behaviour (underage) was amended to assist the Child Safeguarding Committee in its work in ensuring compliance by all units with the Children’s First Act and the Rules of the Association.

“The Rules Drafting Report arising from Motions approved at Special Congress was approved.

“The 2022 Master Fixture Plan was approved. It was agreed to allow Provincial pre-season competitions to proceed and recommence collective training on 8th December.”