Offaly are to vote against the retention of the back-door system in the All-Ireland hurling championship at the special GAA congress later this month.

This is ironic because Offaly would not have won this year's All-Ireland title if they hadn't been given a second chance after losing the Leinster final to Kilkenny.

Offaly delegates voted in favour of a return to the old knockout system by 25 votes to 17 at last night's county board meeting in Tullamore. Concern for ordinary club hurlers, who have been inactive for most of the summer because the county championship was held up, was the main factor which swayed delegates. Offaly played a record number of eight championship matches this year and a number of delegates pointed out last night that the McCarthy Cup had been won at the expense of the clubs.