On a busy day with an agenda of 67 motions, GAA Congress approved the one-on-one penalty and also an advantage rule in hurling, both proposals of Liam Sheedy’s Hurling 2020 Committee. The only setback to the committee’s proposals was expected: the idea that players sent off for a second yellow card be allowed a replacement was defeated.
Less expectedly the Minor Review Committee had a measure of success with lower-age restrictions on players lining out at both adult and under-21 levels being accepted after an at times impassioned debate.
The motion to limit county minors from playing adult club games until their inter-county season is over was passed. The proposal to abolish All-Ireland minor football quarter-finals was however short of the required majority.
A feature of the early business was the lack of contributors from the floor. The opening motions attracted little or no debate after being proposed. Engagement improved in the afternoon but it was anomalous that the longest debate of the afternoon was over the proposal to reduce the number of overseas delegates to congress – just as the Irish-based delegations have had their numbers trimmed.
After many contributions from overseas delegates the motion was ultimately referred back to Central Council.
Two high-profile issues that were debated were the proposed introduction of the black card into hurling and the motion to make GAA venues generally available to other sports subject to the approval of Central Council. Predictably both were unsuccessful, although the Clare motion on use of grounds came close.
The hooter/clock controversy was put to bed emphatically. Approved by two previous congresses, the timing device was yesterday repented of and a motion disowning the idea carried emphatically.
Below is a list of the main motions and the outcome of the debates.
(Motions need a weighted, two-thirds majority 67 per cent to be successful unless stated)
1, 2, 12, 20 and 65: To facilitate the introduction of the black card into hurling. (Maastricht, Europe) – Defeated 29-71. Proposed by Europe delegate Tony Bass, this idea wasn't even discussed and lost heavily.
3: To address anomaly whereby yellow cards carry over into extra time but red cards don't in that dismissed players can be replaced. (Gortin, Tyrone and Warrenpoint, Down). Passed 75-25. Again without debate after being proposed.
4: Extending duration of inter-county under-21 matches to 35 minutes (Newport, Tipperary). Failed to achieve two-thirds majority, 56-44.
5: Providing for mandatory extra time in all senior matches, up to and including All-Ireland finals. (JK Brackens, Tipperary). Opposed by former president Seán Kelly, citing promotional and revenue value of replays this was heavily defeated, 12-88.
6: Amending hurling rules to make the sliotar bigger and heavier. (Cratloe, Clare). Opposed by Kilkenny and Dublin, this was heavily defeated 9-91.
8-11: Expanding the circumstances in which referees may consult with other officials and specifying that the ball must be in play for a foul to attract a free. (St Lomans, Westmeath). The first two provisions concerning consultation were accepted 82-18 but the second two about frees lost 43-57.
13: Allowing temporary replacement for a player suffering from suspected concussion to facilitate examination. (Pomeroy Plunketts, Tyrone, St Molaise, Fermanagh and Aidan McAnespie, NAB). On the suggestion of the Gaelic Players Association and supported by the Ger Ryan, chair of the GAA's Medical Scientific and Welfare Committee, the matter was referred back for further consideration.
14: Stipulating that a goalkeeper must kick the ball if it hand-passed to him. (Clane, Kildare). Defeated 36-64.
15-17: Various restrictions on the hand-pass. None of these was successful. One was withdrawn the other two defeated, 27-73 and 40-60.
19: To reduce the number of steps by a hurler in possession of the ball from four to three. (St Mary's, Clonmel, Tipperary) Defeated 32-68.
21: To allow for only one defender (the goalkeeper) on the goal line for the taking of penalties in hurling. (Hurling 2020 Committee) This was accepted on the proposal of Hurling 2020 chair Liam Sheedy, 84-16.
22: To introduce the five-second advantage rule, already applied in football, into hurling. (Hurling 2020 Committee) This was overwhelmingly carried 92-8.
23: To allow for a player sent off on a second yellow card in hurling to be replaced. (Hurling 2020 Committee). This controversial proposal failed to generate sufficient support but a nearly third of delegates voted in favour, 31-69.
24: To introduce promotion and relegation between the Christy Ring Cup and MacCarthy Cup. (Hurling 2020 Committee). This was accepted 76-34.
25: To codify last year's emergency interpretation of the rules relating to the hurling penalty. This is a fall-back in case the one-on-one proposal in motion 21 doesn't pass. (Central Council). Withdrawn, as 21 was passed.
27: To abolish the introduction of the clock/hooter, an idea already passed twice by Congress but never implemented. (Central Council). A succession of speakers denounced the hooter' one speaker citing possible 'reputational damage' and the abolition was passed 83-17.
29: Providing that all senior inter-county teams publish a 26-man panel on the Thursday morning before a match. (Central Council). This won a tight vote, 52-48 and accordingly was passed, as it's a new rule and not a change to an existing rule.
50: To play adult competition, a player must be at least 17 at club level and 18 at inter-county. To play under-21 a player must be at least 16 at club level and 18 at inter-county. (Minor Review Committee) An intense debate with speakers from Wicklow, Tipperary, Sligo, Meath, Laois, Galway and Wexford supporting and those from Kilkenny and Donegal opposing, concluded with victory for Micheál's Martin's committee, voted in two parts 69-31 and 86-14.
51: Restricting minor county panelists from playing with adult clubs until the inter-county season is over. (Minor Review Committee). Successful 69-31.
52: Abolish the All-Ireland quarter-finals in the minor football championship. (Minor Review Committee). Given the momentum in the debate, there was a slight surprise when this attracted majority support but not the necessary majority, 57-43.
54: Giving post-primary schools first pick for both matches and training on any players, who have been selected for minor or under-21 county panels, until school involvement is over. (Minor Review Committee). This didn't attract sufficient support, 56-44.
58: Empowering Central Council to authorise use of all county grounds for other games. (St Joseph's Milltown Malbay, Clare). Director General Páraic Duffy intervened from the top table to emphasise that this would be a fundamental change from previous permissions regarding the use of Croke Park and the RWC 2023 bid. It was defeated 38-62
63: Permitting each provincial council to organise its championship formats as it wishes. (Leinster Council, Longford and Carlow). After strong arguments by the proposers – Leinster chair John Horan said that some counties were having difficulty attracting jersey sponsors because of lack of championship fixtures – and a query from director general Páraic Duffy as to where club fixtures would fit into an expanding inter-county programme, the motion came surprisingly close to being accepted but just failed to achieve the two-thirds majority, 61-39.
