Central Council sets mark date for January 1

The GAA have delayed introducing the mark to Gaelic football until January 1 next year.

Central Council decided on Saturday to postpone its implementation until 2017 so as to allow players and management fully acquaint themselves with the new rule.

It was also believed introducing it midway through a season would not be appropriate.

It means from the start of next year any player who cleanly catches a kick-out on or past the 45 metre line will be entitled to call a mark or play on.

Although playing rules committee chairman Jarlath Burns and GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail had initially said there would be no issue with the rule come into force with almost immediate effect, director general Páraic Duffy after Congress wasn’t so certain.

“Central Council is meeting in three weeks, there may be different views on when we’ll bring it in.”

As part of Duffy’s proposals to assist club fixtures, Central Council also voted to jettison the Allianz Football League Division 1 semi-finals. The much-maligned semi-finals, which have rewarded half of the top flight with knock-out places, have been in existence since 2012.

In that time, Mayo have qualified for the semi-finals having lost more games than they won, while in other years both Donegal and Mayo reached them winning and losing three times, drawing once.

From next season, the teams that finish in the top two positions after the seven regulation rounds will contest the Division 1 final.

Duffy was also successful in convincing Central Council to endorse his recommendation to increase the number of double football and hurling league weekends.

At present, there are two full double round weekends.

Meanwhile, Central Council agreed to introduce the U17 All-Ireland minor football and hurling championships next season, which will run alongside the current minor (U18) competitions before the U17 grade replaces them in 2018.

There had been concern a group of players would fall between the cracks and miss out on representing their county because of the decision to change the minor grade from U18 to U17 in ’18.

A GAA statement on Saturday read: “It was agreed to introduce an U17 championship for 2017 to ensure players eligible for that age group will have a competition in that calendar year.

It is envisaged that this competition will be played in July and August on a knock-out basis with the final played alongside one of the All-Ireland senior and minor semi-finals.”

It was also decided, as per Duffy’s discussion paper, that the U21 All-Ireland hurling final would take place prior to the All-Ireland senior hurling final from next year.