KILKENNY: Former Kilkenny hurling manager Nicky Brennan has been nominated to contest the election for president of the GAA at next April's congress.

Brennan, chairman of the Leinster Council is the second candidate to be put forward for the job, following Cork's nomination of Munster Council chairman Christy Cooney.

Brennan (51), a former county board chairman and senior hurling and football manager, was proposed at the county board convention by Kieran Muldowney, a fellow-member of the Conahy Shamrocks club, and seconded by Paddy Butler (St Lachtain's). He received unanimous support.

Brennan said: "I am confident that I can take the association forward in a progressive manner while remaining conscious and close to boards, club members and players."

Brennan was wished well by Kilkenny chairman Ned Quinn, who said he was a very worthy candidate for the position.

In his annual address to the convention, Quinn called on the GAA to grant aid to intercounty teams, because counties were finding it increasingly hard to meet their commitments. He felt the money could be found by putting aside a percentage of championship gate receipts up to and including the All-Ireland finals.

Quinn said Kilkenny only made ends meet with the help of sponsorships.

He asked that Rule 120, which was changed at the last Congress to limit the number of players (24) allowed on a senior intercounty panel on match days, be revisited. Quinn wants counties to have a panel of up to 30 players.

On the issue of whether Croke Park should be opened up to other sports, Quinn said Central Council should be given the authority to adjudicate on any request for the use of the stadium.

STADIUM DAMAGED: The storm damage sustained to the stand at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney is not expected to hinder the Munster junior football final set to take place this Sunday at the venue, between Fingue (Kerry) and Aghabullogue (Cork).

The VIP section of the stand was damaged after gales blew sheeting off the roof on Thursday night.

"It was a very bad storm, just a freak occurrence," said Fitzgerald Stadium secretary Liam Sheehan. "But it's just minor damage and it will be repaired by February for the start of the national league."

GALWAY: Galway County Board have passed a law which, had it been in force in the past, would have deprived them of the services of one of their finest defenders.

Niall McInerney, who died last month aged 55, joined the Liam Mellowes club in the city and subsequently declared for Galway when he came to Galway to study at UCG in the 1970s.

A native of Sixmilebridge, he played minor, under-21 and senior hurling for Clare, but after joining Liam Mellowes opted to compete for Galway.

However, Galway county board have now passed a law which will prevent students from joining clubs in Galway city.

A motion from the Loughrea club, which stated that second or third level students could not use their residency in the city for the purpose of interclub transfers, was unanimously carried by the board.

Tommy Kelly of Loughrea said the purpose of the proposal was to protect small, rural clubs. They were losing players to city clubs, who qualified for transfers because they were living in Galway while attending second or third level colleges.

Meanwhile, county board chairman Frank Burke will step down at the end of next year. He has been in charge since 1989.

Last week, hurling board secretary Phelim Murphy stepped down after 23 years in the position.

HURLING BOOK: A new pictorial history of the All-Ireland senior hurling championship features a picture of every winning team since 1887 - except the Kerry team of 1891.

"When I went to Ardfert to try to get a picture of the 1891 team, I was told the only way I would get it was with a pick and shovel. The team never posed for a photograph apparently," said author Frank Burke, who features in the book as a member of the Galway team which recorded an historic win in 1980.

The 320-page book records almost 120 years of the All-Ireland hurling championship.