The GAA have announced that the introduction of the mark to Gaelic football will take place in the new year.

At a meeting of Ard Chomhairle on Saturday it was decided that the initiation of the mark, voted in at Congress last month, will take take place on January 1st 2017 - rather than in May which would usually be the norm following congress.

The new rule allows players the option of taking a free kick after they catch the ball cleanly from a kick-out that passes the 45m line (nearest to the kick-out point).

The initiative had the support of 68 per cent of voters and will come in without a trial period.

Meanwhile it was also agreed to introduce an Under-17 championship for 2017 to ensure players eligible for that age group will have a competition in that calendar year.

The GAA say that “it is envisaged that this competition will be played in July and August on a knock out basis with the final played alongside one of the All-Ireland senior and minor semi-finals.”

It was also confirmed that the division one football semi-finals in the Allianz League will be discontinued next year, with more use to be made of double weekends during the leagues when both football and hurling will be played.

While a decision was taken to play the Under-21 hurling final earlier in the year, before the All-Ireland senior hurling final.