Match banson the cards

Suspensions for cumulative yellow cards, and the introduction of match bans rather than time bans, will be among the disciplinary…

Suspensions for cumulative yellow cards, and the introduction of match bans rather than time bans, will be among the disciplinary reforms to be considered under the auspices of the GAA's Rule Book Task Force (RTBF).

A report will be delivered to next April's annual congress together with recommended motions on the subject. Chaired by the RBTF chair Frank Murphy, the task force has co-opted a number of new members as the area was felt to be beyond the remit of many of the original members, who had been chosen for their legal expertise.

The new members are: managers - Joe Kernan (Armagh) and Michael Keating (Tipperary), players - Paddy Christie (Dublin) and Eoin Kelly (Tipperary) and referees - David Coldrick (Meath) and Aodán MacSuibhne (Dublin), as well as Dan McCartan (Down), PJ McGrath (Mayo), Frank Burke (Galway), Pat Darcy (Tyrone) and Paddy Collins (Westmeath).

In relation to speculation on the use of Croke Park or other GAA grounds by Irish rugby sides involved in European Cup knockout matches, GAA president Nickey Brennan was asked were there any circumstances in which that might happen. "There are no circumstances," he replied after the meeting had been informed of Munster's and Leinster's plans for any home quarter-finals.

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Meanwhile, the GAA are to launch a major advertising campaign centred on the first floodlit match in Croke Park, next month's Dublin-Tyrone NFL match. Television and radio spots will start shortly to be accompanied by advertisements in the print media.

"This is the first stage of marketing the League," said Dermot Power, the GAA's commercial and marketing manager, "and we'll take beyond that when we sit down with Allianz (sponsors of the National Leagues). We will deliver the campaign as a partnership, as we did with Coca-Cola for the international rules. It will be a substantial campaign."

Last year's international rules promotional campaign was - unlike the series - a major success with full houses attending the two Tests.

The GAA Museum will be marking the 80th anniversary of the death of Maurice Davin, one of the founders of the GAA and the association's first president, on Tuesday, January 30th.

Dr Paul Rouse of UCD will deliver a lecture on Davin. Tickets are available at €10 from the GAA Museum, Croke Park.

Seán Moran

Seán Moran

Seán Moran is GAA Correspondent of The Irish Times