HURLING/DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE PROPOSALS:THE GAA president, Nickey Brennan, gave a clear indication yesterday the Hurling Development Committee proposals to support a restructured hurling championship that brings Galway and Antrim into Leinster and maintains the status quo in Munster would be recommended at October's Special Congress.

Alternative proposals for restructuring the hurling championship can also be made but the central executive of the GAA will recommend their own new format for ratification.

"It's no great secret that the proposals will involve Galway and Antrim coming into Leinster," said Brennan. "The request will be coming from central level. I mean the HDC were given a remit to look at how the thing could be improved.

"I'm well on record as saying the way Antrim was accommodated in the championship was just not acceptable.

"I was never happy with it from day one - presidents can't dictate how things happen, but I felt it was completely wrong and unfair to Antrim.

"So now the scenario will be, obviously, the Munster championship, and we will have the Leinster championship hopefully incorporate Galway and Antrim.

"We will be asking the Leinster Council to facilitate that particular structure in the competition. If that happens it means it is a level playing field for everybody."

Other county boards or delegates can bring rival structural recommendations that will also be voted upon at Congress but Brennan feels the new centrally recommended format should be adopted for a minimum five-year period.

"I'm not certain at this stage that it will be the only proposal but it certainly will be the key proposal. I think we are saying this now for the sake of hurling.

"I think we have restructured it enough. I think whatever comes out of this thing must be given a minimum of five years. "We must stop chopping and changing.

"I think it is the final chance we have to put a decent structure on it, because it is not easy. Remember that Ulster want to hold their competition and Antrim want to retain an involvement in Ulster. We want to try and accommodate Galway, who are not in a province.

"We have to try and give two games to everybody. So, before you start to look at any system you are working with at least one hand tied behind your back."

The plan is to introduce any new system only at senior level and if this proves a success let it naturally evolve at underage.

The HDC proposals will seek to maintain a steady supply of hurling matches throughout the summer championship, with two rounds of qualifiers for teams who are beaten before the provincial finals.

It is not apparent whether the provincial champions will continue this year's plan of going straight into the All-Ireland semi-final.

"They will play in the respective championships and then the (teams) who are out at the earlier stages will come into what we'll call pool one and those who get to the semi-final stages and lose come into the second pool so we can at least keep games going at all stages throughout the summer," Brennan continued.

"I think that will be a fairer system and still maintain the integrity of the provincial championships."

Cork's veteran goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack, who was also present at the launch of the Kilmacud Crokes Hurling Sevens in Croke Park yesterday, was in agreement with the suggested change and may even have come up with a new name for an expanded Leinster championship.

"I would definitely keep the Munster championship but there is serious potential for having a Rest of Ireland - just splitting it into two. Maybe that might upset some Galway guys, maybe some Northern people.

"Look, everything needs to keep evolving . . . Teams getting hammered is no good for anybody.

"Then again if you look at any sports competition in the world you are always going to have a top tier of teams and teams getting beaten. That's just the way sport is."

Saturday

All-Ireland MFC Semi-final (replay) - Kerry v Mayo, Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, 3.30pm, E Kinsella (Laois), extra-time if necessary.

All-Ireland MHC B Final - Westmeath v Kildare, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 1pm, D Magee (Down), extra-time if necessary.

All-Ireland IHC Final - Kilkenny v Limerick, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 2.30pm, J McGrath (Westmeath).

Women's Football: All-Ireland JC Semi-final - London v Wicklow, St Peregrines GAA Club, Dublin, 3pm; All-Ireland IC Semi-final - Tipperary v Wexford, Páirc Tailteann, Navan, 4.15pm All-Ireland SC Semi-final - Mayo v Monaghan, Páirc Tailteann, Navan, 6pm.

Sunday

All-Ireland MFC Semi-final - Meath v Tyrone, Croke Park, 12.15pm, M Meade (Limerick).

All-Ireland SFC Semi-final (replay) - Kerry v Cork, Croke Park, 2pm,

J White (Donegal), extra-time if necessary.

All-Ireland SFC Semi-final - Tyrone v Wexford, Croke Park, 4pm, P McEnaney (Monaghan).

Women's football: All-Ireland JC Semi-final - Antrim v Derry, Mullaghbawn, 3pm;

All-Ireland Under-16 A Final - Cork v Galway, Nenagh, 3pm.