That is that, then.
After much debate and many claims on both sides, GAA Congress today voted in favour of Paraic Duffy’s controversial plans for the GAA Championship.
On a three-year experimental basis, the senior All-Ireland football Championship will feature a round robin ‘Super 8’ format at the quarter-final stage, which will see the eight teams divided into two groups of four.
Motion 4 passed 76% Round Robin Qtr finals pic.twitter.com/VBpGfAMhdZ
— Meath GAA (@MeathGAA) February 25, 2017
Despite opposition from both players’ bodies, the GPA and the CPA, Motion 4 acquired the two-third majority needed to pass.
Decent proposal. How a World Cup format would condense the club and county season into 11 months https://t.co/RGELgl8aGt via @sportsjoedotie
— Trevor Phelan (@TrevPhelan) February 23, 2017
Next up for debate will be morion 5, which will see both the football and hurling All-Irelands brought forward so that both Championships are completed on or before the last Sunday in August,
Again, this was a contentious motion. Designed to free up more time for club fixtures, many see it as giving up the month of September to rival sports and doing away with a core tradition of the Association. Again on a three-year trial basis.
The third key motion brought forward by Duffy and central council is the abolition of replays in all football and hurling championship matches outside of senior provincial and All-Ireland finals. Aimed to eliminate fixture congestion, this will once more be trialled on a three-year basis if passed.
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