GAELIC GAMES/News round-up: The proposal to increase county championship panels from 24 to 30 players has gathered significant support ahead of tomorrow's Central Council meeting in Croke Park. If passed, it would be effective immediately, though it would not yet extend to league games.

A spokesperson for Croke Park confirmed yesterday that the proposal falls within the remit of Central Council since it involves a change in regulations governing the organisation and presentation of senior games, rather than a change in the rulebook that would require such a proposal going before congress.

The issue gained renewed momentum during last month's consultation meetings between the National Referees' Committee and inter-county representations from all four provinces.

A number of managers expressed dissatisfaction at having to cut their panels, which typically involve around 30 players, down to 24 for match days.

Under current rules, only 24 county players can gain entry to the dressing-rooms for championship matches and get their names on the match programme.

As a result of those consultation meetings, the proposal to extend that figure was drafted and will be submitted to Central Council by Jarlath Burns, the chairman of GAA's Players' Committee.

Burns recently submitted a similar proposal that failed to get past Central Council, although that sought an increase for all games and not just in the championship.

There is now substantial evidence that the proposal will receive the necessary backing.

All Leinster counties are set to support it, with similar support likely to come from Connacht and Ulster counties.

Munster counties are somewhat less unanimous, but appear willing to add their support pending certain clarifications.

When the referees' committee met separately with each province, the main purpose of which was to address the interpretation and implementation of rules by referees, the issue of panel numbers ended up becoming one of the most passionate subjects.

GAC chairman Pauric Duffy, who attended all four meetings, maintains that feelings on the matter are very strong.

"At the meetings in Leinster and Connacht, no one spoke against the proposal," said Duffy. "John O'Mahony in Galway felt very strongly about increasing panels to 30 players and it was the same from the likes of Tommy Lyons in Dublin and Paddy Carr in Louth.

"As it happened, the issue wasn't raised in Munster or Ulster. But it's well known now that most counties have panels of 28 or 30 players now, and managers were finding it more difficult and unfair to cut the names down to 24."

Following the Leinster meeting, all respective counties decided to support the proposal.

According to Danny Murphy, secretary of the Ulster Council, there is a need for the association to recognise the 30-man panel.

"I think it's generally accepted now that the 30 players on the panel all put in the same commitment and the same energy and should be treated the same," he said.

"We decided to apply the 30-man panel this season anyway, and facilitated a full squad application in Clones last Sunday.

"Individual counties may have to look at the cost factors, but I think most counties are already operating on a 30-man basis."

In Munster, some counties, notably Cork, have expressed reservations about the full implications of the change and whether it should be regarded as a rule change, and it is understood that Waterford and Tipperary would be against it. Kerry county chairman Seán Walsh outlined some of the possible reservations.

"At the moment, we would operate with a 30-man panel anyway," he said.

"If Croke Park bring that number into law then we would support it, but I expect that some county boards may not be able to meet the financial burden and that may need some clarification."

Other proposals due to be raised tomorrow as a result of the consultation meetings concern blood substitutes and drug testing.

This season the rule on jersey numbers was due to be enforced, and if blood substitutes came back on wearing a different number (sometimes higher than 24), then county boards would be liable for a €1,000 fine.

Since that would involve counties requiring two of even three full sets of jerseys, an alternative number may now be permitted, though the PA system would still have to relay the identity of the player that has come back on.

Meanwhile, tickets for Sunday's Munster hurling championship first round game between All-Ireland champions Tipperary and rivals Clare at Páirc Uí Chaoimh have been slow in selling.

Last year's game at the same venue on June 3rd attracted 42,000, just short of the maximum 43,500, but so far in the region of 25,000 tickets have been taken up.