Dublin county secretary John Costello has called for the retention of the minor and under-21 intercounty championships. In his report to next Monday's annual convention he disagrees with the recommendations of the Burnout Task Force, which has recommended the replacement of the two age categories with a new under-19 championship.

Costello goes on to say that whereas Dublin - who won hurling titles at both minor and under-21 level last season - fully support protecting players from over-activity, the third-level sector should be the focus of any restrictions.

"Players are the greatest asset of the association and so must be protected - sometimes protected from themselves and their desire to serve too many masters in schools, colleges or university, their club, their county and maybe also both codes.

"It is imperative that all the stake-holders work together to protect the greatest assets of our games and that best practice is used on and off the field to aid injury prevention - and this is a practice we have always strived to implement in Dublin.

"I don't think scrapping the minor and under-21 grades is the correct route to travel, perhaps the spotlight should focus more sharply on the training schedule, travelling schedule and fixtures schedule (both competitive and challenges) that a lot of players throughout the country undertake for third-level competitions."

In the report he also reveals that the county hopes to start work on the proposed centre of excellence at Rathcoole and that South Dublin County Council has recently completed the compulsory purchase of lands nearby to build access roads and secured Part 8 planning approval, which will enable the development to go ahead.

"Given that there is now more certainty on the access," according to Costello, the council and the board's professional advisers have commenced negotiations with a view to lodging an application for planning permission for a Centre of Excellence in six months' time.

"Key agreement issues revolve around the site layout, site boundaries, site services, parking requirements, boundary treatments and buildings. There have also been discussions on temporary site access to facilitate site development and construction works pending completion of the new access road. The final plans will be submitted to the County Committee for approval. I now expect that we can complete the project in 2009 all things being equal."

He also criticised the number of fixtures being called off in club competitions. "The Competitions Control Committee (CCC) continue to attempt to change a mindset and culture that exists within some clubs that it is believed that games can be called off at a whim, for all types of frivolous reasons, thus leaving 40 players idle in any one fixture where a panel of 20 on each side is involved.

"This situation renders the Master List inoperable and, in my opinion, there continues to be too many postponements sought."

Other issues raised in the report included the rising cost of preparing club teams.