Stand-by linesmen will be used to indicate how much injury-time is to be played in all senior championship matches this summer.
Central Council this week moved to accept the proposal, stipulating that the extra official will also control the regulated substitution zones and to ensure satisfactory operation of the blood rule. In a statement released yesterday, it was emphasised that the referee remains "the sole timekeeper".
"At a stipulated time before the end of normal time in each half, the referee will inform the stand-by linesman of how much time will be added for deliberate or incidental delay," reads the statement.
The added time will be illustrated on an electronic board held up by the linesman or through a public address. Any further delay after that announcement will be added on by the referee.
Managers who incur suspension over the summer will be prevented from having any contact with their team on match days. The central council decided in future, "where a team manager or official is under suspension he shall not be allowed to play any part in team affairs on match day. He shall be excluded from the pitch enclosure, dressing-room and dressingroom area and will be accommodated in the stand, but not in seats close to the team dug-outs." Meanwhile, Monaghan's Padraig McShane, Oliver Dowling of Laois, William Kirby of Kerry and Seamus Durcan from Roscommon were all reinstated to resume playing at a recent meeting of central council.
A similar request regarding Paul Durcan of Sligo was refused and an application for the reinstatement of Meath's Barry Sheridan was referred to the next meeting of the management committee. Last night's meeting between the GPA and the Players Committee was cancelled due to the foot-and-mouth crisis.
The Leinster Council has proposed a resolution of the row between Kilmessan hurling club and the Meath county board, concerning non-fulfillment of a fixture. The following decisions were arrived at:
a) It was agreed that Kilmessan be accepted into all grades of adult hurling competitions for 2001.
b) It was agreed that the Meath county board could have imposed greater penalties.
c) It was agreed that the penalty imposed shall be £1,200, made up as follows: £400 with Kilmessan's 2001 affiliation fees; £400 before the beginning of July 2001; £400 before the beginning of September 2001.
d) Failure to comply with the above may mean further penalties imposed by the county board.
e) It is the view of the Leinster Council sub-committee that the decision is fair and reasonable and the council wishes both parties every success in 2001.
