A special round will be organised to guarantee Galway a second match in the All-Ireland hurling championship. This is the main feature of the Hurling Development Committee's blueprint which was passed by the GAA's Games Administration Committee during the week and if passed by Congress will come into operation for the 2002 championship.

Eight teams will enter an open draw qualifier for the All-Ireland series. They will be drawn from defeated counties in the provincial championships plus Galway. Places are to be allocated as follows: three counties who lose in the first round and semi-finals in both Munster and Leinster, the defeated Ulster finalists and Galway.

If Galway are defeated in the first game the three winning teams in this round, other than the team which beat Galway, will enter a draw ensuring that the Connacht representatives receive a minimum of two games in the championship.

The four teams which emerge from the open draw will then join the defeated provincial finalists in Munster and Leinster in a further open draw. The three winning teams from this qualifier will, along with the Ulster champions, contest the quarter-finals.

The two winners in this group will play the Munster and Leinster champions in the semi-finals.