Congress rejects U-19 championships proposal

Delegates at the GAA's Special Congress have decided not to back proposals for new Under-19 inter-county hurling and football championships and will stick with the current set-up for the foreseeable future.

Separate motions were put forward at the Croke Park Congress in relation to the minor and Under-21 championships but these motions were comprehensively rejected.

The motion to scrap the minor and U-21 grades in both codes was defeated by 115 votes to 58.

Among those against the new proposal included Ned Quinn on behalf of the GAA's Hurling Development Committee, Mayo, Tyrone and Britain.

Cavan delegate George Cartwright felt that the case for change was overwhelming, and his county were firm supporters of the motion.

"All we have heard is a denial from various sectors that burnout doesn't exist. What is the alternative? More of the same? We have a blueprint and let's try and go ahead with it for a two-year period," Cartwright said.

However Tyrone's Brendan Harkin felt that pre-match training and preparations were the key issue to be addressed rather than competitive games.

He said: "We are trying here to deal with competition rather than preparation. The motion is not dealing with the real core problem which is over-training and over-coaching and this certainly needs to be addressed."

Delegates had previously listened to an extensive presentation by Dr Pat O'Neill, chairman of the Player Burnout taskforce.

"Burnout is a serious issue for the minority and our young talented players from 16-22 years of age, but fadeout and dropout is an issue for the majority," O'Neill said.

Meanwhile, there will be extra-time played in the knock-out stages of all Post Primary competitions and players eligible for Vocational Schools junior football and hurling competitions shall not be eligible for Vocational Schools senior inter-county football and hurling competitions.

Similiarly in the Higher Education sector, a motion was passed that ensures that a player shall not be allowed to play in both the Freshers competitions and the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups/other Third Level championships (and equivalent league competitions).