Congress 2017 - 2017-03-06 09:54:00

Statement from Croke Park

The decision to pass a series of historic motions at Congress to change the senior football championship and alter the entire inter-county season will have a positive impact on club players and the quality of their games programme.

A ‘modest’ change put forward by the GAA’s Ard Comhairle will now begin the job of proving itself.
Its success will be built – not only on the aim of having more excitement involving the best teams in the football championship, but also by providing a definite, clear window for clubs to play important games.
The GAA inter-county season has been cut by three weeks with most counties finishing a month earlier than at present and with the entire month of September handed back to them to play games free of inter-county infringement.
Delegates at Congress 2017 in Croke Park voted overwhelmingly in favour of:


The introduction of a new eight team round robin quarter final group in the All-Ireland senior football championship


The end of replays in senior championship matches outside of All-Ireland and provincial finals


The commitment to playing the All-Ireland senior hurling and football finals before the end of August


The changes have been voted in on a threeyear trial basis which will begin in 2018.