GAA president Seán Kelly has denied that the failure to appoint a national hurling development officer at the weekend was a reflection on the candidates for the position. According to Kelly, Central Council's decision to defer the appointment was based on the changing shape of the structures that the new officer would be expected to oversee.

"That (interpretation) wouldn't be fair at all. We're going to look at it to see where the position fits in. If it doesn't fit in with what we have at the moment there's no point in pushing it for the sake of a cosmetic exercise. The situation has changed recently because of the projects we got in from the provinces. That changes the focus at national level.

"We're concentrating now on making sure that the projects that have been given the go-ahead will be implemented and then to see where a national director would fit into that. There's no point in appointing just for the sake of it.

"I was talking this morning to Nickey English and a few of the fellas in the HDC (Hurling Development Committee) about this and we're going to sit down and look at it again. One thing we're adamant about is that this will give value for money and make hurling stronger."

Another decision announced by Saturday's Central Council meeting was to review the operations of the Disputes Resolution Authority, the GAA's independent arbitration body, which was established by this year's congress in order to prevent the GAA being taken to the High Court by members and units.

"It has been a bit of a shock for some units of the association that they're operating now so quickly and so effectively. Some of the traditional means of doing business have been found to be flawed.

"We want to sit down with the DRA and discuss what they think and bring any issues members of the association may have with them.

"For instance, some people feel it's too easy to get (a case) to the DRA at the moment. We want to ask them for their views and take a collective decision on how to progress. One thing I've decided is that when the DRA take a decision it's binding on everyone.

"I think that point was mentioned, that it might be too easy to go to the DRA. It should be the last option, not the first . . . the fee is going to be a subject because if the fee is too low then it's very easy."

Kelly also elaborated on suggestions that there should be fewer matches played in Croke Park in future championship seasons.

"That's definitely going to happen. It's partly a cost issue, but also a question of the residents in Croke Park and also administrative. If you can get a bigger attendance at a provincial venue why bring it to Croke Park? We're also upgrading grounds and there's no point in doing that if you're going to put all your matches in Croke Park."

Meanwhile, Seán Cavanagh's Moy will face Peter Canavan's Errigal Ciaran in the tie of the round after the sides were pitted together in the draw for the Tyrone senior football quarter-finals.

The game will feature no less than eight of the couny's All-Ireland winning squad - with Moy's Philip Jordan and Ryan Mellon facing up to Enda McGinley, Davy and Mark Harte and John Devine.

TYRONE SFC (Quarter-finals) - Errigal Ciaran v Moy, Omagh v Clan na nGael/Cookstown, Carrickmore v Galbally/Kildress, Dromore v Edendork.