Saturday's meeting of the GAA's Central Council decided by a narrow margin to retain the Railway Cup interprovincial competitions. Although Pauric Duffy, chairman of the GAC, illustrated the low priority the competition now held with intercounty players, Jarlath Burns of the Players' Committee and Ulster Council secretary Danny Murphy made strong pleas to retain it.

It was agreed that two rounds of next year's hurling league in Divisions One and Two would be played before Christmas, with no league games in January or February.

It was also decided that the concept of the Oireachtas Hurling Tournament had now become obsolete, and the All-Ireland B competitions would be discontinued.