Proposals to revamp the hurling and football championships and national leagues were announced today.
Chief among them are proposals to reduce the football championship qualifier structure by one round and introduce a bonus point for a side that scores two or more goals from open play in the hurling league.
To reduce qualifying rounds, teams in the bottom division of the league will be placed straight into the Tommy Murphy cup once they are eliminated from their respective provincial championships.
An open, unrestricted draw would then be made for qualifying rounds one, two and three while discontinuing the pre-ordained quarter and semi-finals roster is also envisaged.
It is also proposed that football and hurling qualifiers be played on the same date and that extra-time determine the outcome of these games as opposed to replays.
In hurling, it is proposed 12 teams compete for the Liam Mc Carthy Cup. Ten sides would then contest the Christy Ring Cup and another 12 for the Nicky Rackard Cup.
The Liam Mc Carthy Cup would include the Leinster and Munster provincial championships, in addition to a qualifier group with two pre-ordained groups of four teams.
The Christy Ring Cup would have two groups of five and the Nicky Rackard Cup four groups of three. There would be no promotion to or relegation from the Liam Mc Carthy Cup.
It is also suggested a South Dublin team compete in the Christy Ring competition and a North Dublin side in the Nicky Rackard Cup from 2008 onwards.
A straight forward Division 1 to 4 is proposed for both the football and hurling leagues. Eight teams would compete each of the football divisions from 2008 although there is a provision to start in 2007.
A football league without a final, i.e. the top team after the round-robin stage is crowned champion, has been mooted although there could yet be a final between the top two sides in each tier.
The two bottom sides in each division will be relegated while while the sixth placed team in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 play the third placed team in Division 2,3 and 4 respectively in a promotion / relegation play-off.
The revamped hurling league is lined up for 2007 and is also a four tier structure.
Nine counties will compete in the top two divisions with eight and seven sides battling it out in tiers three and four respectively.
The play off stages in all divisions would include semi-finals and a final with promotion and relegation between divisions while a bonus point will also be awarded to teams that score two or more goals from open play.
Finally, a South Dublin team would be included in Division 3 from 2008 onwards.
These proposals are the result of a wide consultation process by the Games Administration Committee, including contributions from the Competitions Task Force, the Hurling Development Committee and the Football Task Force.
Draft proposals have been circulated to all counties and a final document in respect of the National Leagues will be placed before Central Council at their next meeting.
A final proposal in respect of the hurling and football championships goes before Special Congress in October.