GAA Congress: New president and a key August motion

It's the last weekend in February. And so it's the time for the great and good of the GAA world to gather for their annual congress.

Last year, delegates spent two days in Donegal but on this occasion it's back to Croke Park.

A total of 25 motions will go before the floor, as well as the election of a new president. Three candidates are in the running: Derek Kent (Wexford), John Murphy (Sligo) and Ger Ryan (Tipperary). And so at some stage on Friday evening, we will know the identity of the next Uachtarán, the man who will lead the association from February 2027.

Former Leinster GAA chairperson Kent is the favourite.

Integration with the LGFA and the Camogie Association will be a key issue for whoever is elected and they will be present at a Special Congress next October to firmly start the process of merging the three bodies.

What's in motion? Well, some keys decision will be made, so let's have a look at those requests that have made it to the floor, those that could impact the calendar and competition structure.

Motion 14: Inter-county season extension?

Shall we extend or shall we not? And so we have a motion from a working group chaired by former GAA director general Páraic Duffy that the inter-county season season be extended by two weeks. That would mean the All-Ireland football final would take place on the second Sunday in August while hurling would have its big day on the last Sunday in July.

The wording of this proposed change states that "All-Ireland finals shall be played on or before the 32nd Sunday of the year on dates determined by the Central Council". Note 32nd, not 30th as is the current end-point in the calendar.

And there's more: "No inter-county competitions will be organised before the fourth Sunday of the year". And if that were to pass, that will signal the end of the pre-season competitions.

While to conclude, the motion states that clubs from counties that reach the All-Ireland senior hurling and football finals will receive a bye from the opening round of competition in their respective province in the same competition year.

The mood music from a number of counties would seem to indicate no great desire to go with an August finish. The split season works well as it is, is the message from larger dual counties particularly.

But let the delegates decide!

Motion 8: No extension to inter-county campaign

From the GPA, who propose the senior inter-county playing season in all codes shall not exceed 30 scheduled weeks - as is the case now. However, the requirement for All-Ireland replays would permit an extension.

Motion 7: Minor finals back at Croker on the big day

Fermanagh are proposing that the All-Ireland minor finals, in both football and hurling, be played before the senior deciders at Croke Park. It's 2019 since the minors provided the curtain-raiser at GAA HQ.

Motion 6: Joe McDonagh Cup semi-final

The counties who finish second and third in the six-team Tier 2 competition will contest a semi-final, where the winners will face the top team in the Joe McDonagh final.

This motion from Laois also proposes that the All-Ireland quarter-final be played at venues determined by the CCCC.

Motion 18: No Joe McDonagh representation in All-Ireland series

Coming from central council and the hurling development committee, this proposed amendment would see the end of the preliminary All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals and no subsequent involvement for the Joe McDonagh Cup winners and beaten finalists.

The new-look quarter-finals would involve the runners-up in Leinster and Munster, along with the third-placed teams in the respective provincial round-robins.

The pairings would see the Leinster runners-up facing the third-placed Munster team and vice-versa, with the provincial finalists having home advantage. (If Motion 6 passes, Motion 18 won't be heard)

Motion 13: Replays in provincial football finals

The GAA's Ard Chomhairle are proposing extra-time in said finals. If teams can't be separated after the two additional periods, a replay would follow, with a winner on the day.

Motion 5: County eligibility

In order to be eligible to play senior inter-county championship a year hence, this motion from the Clontaf GAA club states that a player shall have played a minimum of eight competitive league or championship games with their club in the previous calendar year (in either their current county or their previous county).

Motions 15 & 16: Stopping what some see as the runaway train; enshrining the amateur ethos

The amateur status review committee have two motions on the table: The first is the requirement that each county obtain a high-performance licence, with a view to controlling the amount of money being spent by inter-county teams, so allowing participation in the leagues and senior championships,

And secondly they will seek to redraft the GAA rule book to offer a more modern and updated criteria surrounding the amateur status rule.

Motion 19: Dissent in Hurling

The hurling development committee and the standing committee on playing rules in dealing with dissent on the field are proposing that a free be brought forward 30 metres or up to the 21-metre line.

Motion 21: 11-a-side games

To help small, rural clubs, impacted by depopulation, county boards will have the option to organise 11-a-side competitions. At the moment teams can play 13-a-side. Motion from Ard Chomhairle/demographics committee/standing committee on playing rules.

Others things of note

Motion 1: County officers and the five-year rule. Once a five-year term is up you can't serve a subsequent term - but you can return to the role after five years have elapsed.

Motion 12: Central Council propose a change to the wording of the rule, so it allows for, at least, three female appointments on the GAA's management committee.

Motion 24: Counties having access to an online system for club transfers.

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