The championship structure will have undergone several alterations when the complete GAA fixtures list for 2006 is released next week. Significantly, the All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals will be packaged into one weekend, as will round four of the football qualifiers.
The condensed format is caused by the All-Ireland finals in both hurling and football being brought forward a week to avoid a clash with the first staging of the Ryder Cup in Ireland. The biennial golfing battle between Europe and the US takes place at the K Club from September 22nd to 24th.
With the provincial championships still concluding in the first three weeks of July, the All-Ireland series had to be readjusted.
"We have had to keep the football quarter-finals over two weekends because the fixtures are based on the provincial finals," said CGAC chairman Tony O'Keeffe.
Another expected change from last year is the abolition of the Liam MacCarthy Cup relegation semi-finals although this can only be achieved by passing a motion through Congress. Both Offaly and Laois played in the relegation semi-finals last year having finished second from bottom in the newly formed group stages. Laois lost their match to Dublin and only victory over Antrim in the relegation final saw them avoid dropping down to the Christy Ring Cup.
"We have reacted to criticism here but it must be put through the system correctly," said O'Keeffe.
"I believe Laois have drafted a motion for Congress so if that is passed we will change the fixtures to just a relegation final."
However, neither the Laois clubs nor the county executive have put such a motion on the clár for this Thursday's annual county convention. "We requested it formally but there was no actual motion tabled. It must have slipped people's minds," said Laois secretary Niall Handy. Offaly manager John McIntyre was also unaware of any movement on the matter by his county board. "It's not something we hope to be worrying about this season."
Meanwhile, Paddy Oliver was returned as Louth county chairman at Monday's annual convention.
In Limerick, Carmel Ryan has become only the second female officer to be elected to the county board, following in the footsteps of Sandra Marsh, who was PRO from 1996 to 2001. Limerick convention delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of the appointment of a full-time county board secretary and it is understood the position will soon be advertised.
Nemo Rangers are planning without two Cork regulars, Derek Kavanagh and Niall Geary, for Sunday's Munster final against Clare champions St Senan's, Kilkee. Midfielder Kavanagh is abroad while Geary recently had a minor knee operation. "Niall damaged his knee against Ardfinnan (Tipperary champions) but he is expected back from a holiday this week so we will know more then. We're still hopeful," said Nemo manager Ephie Fitzgerald.
Sunday's Fixtures
Munster club football championship final: Nemo Rangers (Cork) v St Senan's Kilkee (Clare), Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, 2.0, P Sheehy (Kerry).
Munster junior club football championship final: Ardfert (Kerry) v Erins Own (Cork), Knocknagree, 2.0, B Tyrell (Tipperary).
