Ned Quinn was last night re-elected to the chair of Kilkenny county board, the post he last held in 2007. The former chair of the national Hurling Development Committee and a key figure in the county’s recent hurling successes had served for the past five years as county secretary. He defeated outgoing vice-chair and former county secretary Pat Dunphy by 121-21.

The secretary’s position will be filled by Jimmy Walsh, the outgoing Kilkenny Central Council delegate, who defeated outgoing county chair Paul Kinsella 88-54. Outgoing public relations officer Conor Denieffe was unopposed as the new vice-chair as was outgoing events controller Séamus Reade for PRO.

Under GAA rules, county officers must vacate their positions after five years.

Meanwhile the GAA yesterday announced details of the roll-out of compulsory mouth guards for all under-age football grades up to and including minor next month. The decision to make the equipment mandatory was taken at this year’s annual congress when a motion proposed by Central Council was passed by 86 votes to 14.

Mouth guards will be compulsory for senior players in 12 months’ time, from January 1st, 2014.

Dr Cliff Beirne, a leading consultant on maxillofacial injury, addressed the congress on the recommendation last April. He said the proposal would decrease the occurrence of jaw and dental injuries in Gaelic games.

Players who refuse to comply can be sent off and will not be covered under the GAA Player Injury Scheme.