GAA Congress:The issue of burnout may well be back on the GAA congress floor by the end of the year. Although there was acceptance that delegates had spoken in defeating the plans to replace minor and under-21 intercounty championships with an under-19 grade, the GAA hierarchy was determined after Saturday's special congress to revisit the problem as soon as possible.

Closing the burnout section of congress clár, GAA president Nickey Brennan said that "the matter has not gone away".

Later it was announced that the burnout task force would be asked to continue its deliberations in search of alternative solutions and the task force chair Dr Pat O'Neill expressed his willingness to remain on for a further period to oversee that process.

The president said that whereas there "may be issues that demanded another special congress," he would "very surprised if the topic is not on the clár for the 2009 congress".

Incoming director general Páraic Duffy, a member of the task force, went farther in suggesting the matter could be tackled before the 2009 season.

"There's no doubt that there's a consensus that is open to other solutions and we could be looking at a special congress in September or October."

Asked what room for manoeuvre had been left by the congress decisions, Dr O'Neill replied that the situation needed to be addressed on three levels: "social, over-training and over-use together with an educational process. There may be further issues. The will is there; it's the mechanism that's of concern."

Proponents of the recommendations were surprised that the margin of defeat was comparatively respectable, 115 to 58 (inside the one-third limit that would allow the matter to be raised again within the next three years). After O'Neill's presentation, a forceful exposition on burnout complete with graphic images of associated injuries, which director general Liam Mulvihill suggested should be distributed to the counties in DVD format, the early stages of the debate suggested the outcome might be even closer.

The first motion (number 16) concerning the suspension of the minor and under-21 intercounty championships provided the battleground debate.

Argument centred on the implications of the task force report. John Costello, chief executive of the Dublin County Board, Antrim chair Dr John McSparran and players' Central Council delegate Dessie Farrell all said that the expert conclusions couldn't be ignored. "This is the most serious issue facing the association for the next 20 years," said Farrell. "It needs to be addressed before it's too late." Cavan's George Cartwright said: "The case for change is overwhelming."

Tyrone's Brendan Harkin accepted the problem but not the solution. "this won't address the problem of people who over-train or over-coach players," he said. "Injuries are all the result of over-coaching not the playing of competitions."

Opposing, Seán Feeney, Mayo county secretary, suggested that under-17 replace minor to avoid clashing with the Leaving Certificate and the under-21 "be left alone". John Costigan, Tipperary chair, said that association "can address the matter without taking these measures.

In a move that raised eyebrows Ned Quinn, chair of the Hurling Development Committee, said that the HDC opposed the proposals, stating that "the under-21 grade is vital to expand the senior championship"

Roscommon's Tommy Kenoy's striking contribution was commended by Duffy in his response to the debate. "This is a matter of serious research and findings that must be taken seriously now," said Kenoy. "We have taken the brave decision to support it - brave because next year our All-Ireland-winning minor team will be in their last year of under-21."

One significant proposal that did get through was the designation of November and December as closed months for intercounty matches and collective training."

The proposals of the Club Fixtures Report, drawn up by Duffy, had a happier passage through congress with all the motions concerned with its implementation adopted by delegates.

These include: extra-time in championship matches up to the semi-final stages of the provincial and All-Ireland championships, the national leagues to be completed over eight weekends (10 in the case of NFL Division Four to accommodate Kilkenny footballers who have re-entered the league this year), limitation of match panels to 30 for championship and 24 for the league to make more players available to clubs.

The quarter-finals of the All-Ireland championships are to be completed by the August Bank Holiday, allowing, according to Duffy, "that August be clear for club fixtures for all but four counties". A charter is to be drafted annually by the county chairs, stipulating the availability of players for club fixtures, and shall be agreed and signed by all county managers in order to eliminate or reduce the potential for disagreement during the intercounty season.

Two miscellaneous motions were passed, one blocking the loophole that allowed a player escape suspension in Longford because his club's name hadn't been submitted in Irish in the referee's report and a proposal covering aspiring dual players who are members of exclusively football or hurling clubs. It was also announced that GAA information officer Feargal McGill has been seconded to the office of new director general Páraic Duffy.

Burnout report

Suspension of minor and under-21 intercounty championships and their replacement with an under-19 grade for two years. 6 defeated 6

Establishing a two-month closed season for intercounty activity in November and December. 4 accepted 4

Club fixtures report

Extra-time in championship matches up to the semi-final stages of provincial and All-Ireland championships. 4 accepted 4

Quarter-finals of the All-Ireland championships are to be completed by the August Bank Holiday. 4 accepted 4

Limitation of match panels to 30 for championship and 24 for League. 4 accepted 4

A charter stipulating the availability of players for club fixtures to be agreed and signed by county managers. 4 accepted 4