Ian O'Riordantakes a closer look at the GAA's new SHC format and discipline proposals
All-Ireland SHC Proposed format
Tier One: Liam McCarthy Cup:
Twelve counties will participate in the championship. The 12 counties eligible to participate in 2009 are Dublin, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wexford, Clare, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Galway and Antrim. Thereafter, there will be a promotion and relegation process. Provincial championships will be played on a knock-out format. The provincial championships will be (a) Munster and (b) Leinster, in which Galway and Antrim will participate.
In the Leinster championship there will be an open draw, with the previous year's champions given a bye to the semi-finals. The inclusion of Galway and Antrim in the Leinster championship will be for an initial period of three years (2009 - 2011 inclusive), at the end of which Congress will review the new arrangement.
Ulster championship:
An Ulster championship will continue, with Antrim participating, but the Ulster
competition will not lead to qualification for the Liam McCarthy Cup.
All Ireland Qualifiers:
Phase One:This will comprise the four provincial first-round losers (three in Leinster and one in Munster). The teams will play on a knock-out basis. An open draw will determine the pairings. The first team drawn in each pairing will have home venue. The two winners will progress to Phase Three.
Phase Two:This will comprise the four teams defeated in the Munster and Leinster semi-finals. The teams will play off on a knock-out basis, in which the Munster teams will play the Leinster teams. An open draw will determine the pairings. The two winners will progress to Phase Three.
Phase Three:The winning teams of Phase One will play against the winning teams of Phase Two, knock-out format, in which One winner will play a Phase winner.
All-Ireland Quarter-finals:
The defeated Munster and Leinster finalists will play the two winners of Phase Three on a knock- format. The defeated Munster Leinster finalists will be kept
All-Ireland Semi-finals:
The Munster and Leinster champions will be in separate semi-finals will respectively play one of quarter-final winners.
Promotion/Relegation:
The teams defeated in the first rounds of Phases One and Two of the qualifiers will play off, over rounds, on a knock-out format. losers will contest a play-off the winners of Tier Two (the Christy Ring Cup).
- To avoid repeat pairings, feasible a draw will be made determine the pairings.
Burnout Task Force Selected proposals
1, That the existing under-21 competitions at county and club levels be altered to under-20 competitions
2, Provincial championships to be organised on a knock-out basis. In intercounty championships, one draw will be made to cover the entire
championship.
3, Minor provincial championships will start after the completion of the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools competitions on the second weekend of April, and will be decided during April, May and July.
4, The under-20 football provincial championships will be played in conjunction with the period of the National Football League.
5, A player under-20 will not participate in the National Leagues and/or training with a senior intercounty team, while the county remains involved in the under-20 championship in the respective code.
6, The starting dates for the collective training of intercounty underage teams will be: Under-20 football - January 1st Minor hurling and football - March 1st
Under-20 hurling - May 1st.
An underage intercounty team will be restricted to a maximum of three collective sessions - training and/or games - per week.
7, That the quarter-finals of all Higher Education Council championships be completed before Christmas and that Higher Education teams have a
maximum of three collective sessions - training and/or games - per week".
Fouls to avoid
THE SIX fouls which have been classified as highly disruptive, and will result in a straight yellow card are:
1, To pull down an opponent (in football)
2, To trip an opponent with hand(s), foot (or hurley)
3, To deliberately body collide with an opponent after he has played the ball away or for the purpose of taking him out of a movement of play.
4, To bring an arm (or hurley) around the neck of an opponent.
5, To wrestle with an opponent, on the ground, and away from the play.
6, To remonstrate in an aggressive manner with a match official.