The fate of the Tony Foristal hurling competition hangs in the balance. Contested by under-14 county teams, the competition faces extinction after the Strategic Review Committee report proposed that: "No inter-county competition should be organised for any age group below under-16". Organised every year in Waterford by the Waterford Glass GAA club, the Foristal comes into the prohibited category.

It occupies a unique position in that Central Council has already enacted the ban on inter-county competitions in that age group. But, bizarrely, after intense lobbying the GAA's ruling body between congress overruled its decision and allowed the Foristal to continue.

John Prenty, the secretary of the Connacht Council and a member of the SRC, believes the prohibition should be fully enforced. "Involving youngsters in inter-county activity at that age is wrong. There have been instances of schools' players coming under pressure not to play for their schools because the county team wants them to concentrate on a big match."

It is believed, however, that the GAA will adopt a gradual approach to the Foristal Cup. Already the tournament - which receives substantial support from the GAA - is to include an enhanced coaching element to defuse the pure competitiveness of the hurling. A minimum number of sessions is to be combined with greater deployment of A and B teams in an effort to spread the participation within counties and remove some of the pressure.

Prenty says that there is a good reason behind the SRC recommendation. "If you were to survey teams that do well at one age group, you'd find a big fall-off rate as the players get older. For instance, how many successful under-16s are still around by under-21. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that intense competition when players are young shortens playing careers. If players win medals too young it can mean that their ambitions are satisfied too early."

This issue reflects a growing concern in the GAA in recent years. Increased intensity and a suspicion that team mentors at that level are using the experience as a stepping stone in their own careers rather than a means to maximising participation and skill levels as players develop have added to that unease.

One under-16 county team had 54 training sessions on the way to winning a competition. But as one observer puts it: "There'll not be too many of them left a few years later."

The SRC recommendations (there is also a proposed bar on players younger than 16 playing more than one grade ahead of their age) is likely to be the precursor of a concerted attempt to establish global guidelines in relation to the balance between top-level inter-county competition at underage and more relaxed coaching methods along the lines of schools of excellence.

Meanwhile, the Eircell-Vodaphone hurling All Stars tour, which flies out to Buenos Aires today for an exhibition match at the weekend, had a last-minute crisis yesterday evening. Kilkenny's Willie O'Connor, left corner back on the 2000 All Stars, had to withdraw for personal reasons. After some frantic searching, Clare's Frank Lohan was able to clear his desk and pack his bags in time to join the tour.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

SATURDAY

Hastings Cup (Under-21 football): Semi-final: Cavan v Kildare, Michael Fay Park, Longford. 2.0.

SUNDAY

Walsh Cup (SH): Meath v Laois, Navan, 2.30; Dublin v Offaly, Parnell Park, 2.0, J Kelly (Wexford) (extra-time if necessary).

Connacht League (SF): Mayo v Leitrim, Charlestown, 2.0, B McCormack (Roscommon); Galway v Roscommon, Ballinasloe, V Neary (Mayo).

McGrath Cup (SF): Final: Clare v Waterford, Miltown-Malbay, 2.30, M Ryan (Limerick). Extra-time if necessary.