THE INTRODUCTION OF the mark in Gaelic football will take place on 1 January 2017, it was announced after today’s meeting of the GAA’s Central Council.
The new rule was rubberstamped by GAA Congress in Carlow last month but will not come into play for the 2016 season and instead the focus will be on next year’s pre-season competitions when the rule is implemented.
Today’s Central Council meeting also decided that the Division 1 semi-finals of the Allianz football league will be discontinued next year and instead the top two teams will progress straight to the final.
The GAA will also make more use of double weekends during the Allianz leagues when both football and hurling will be played.
A decision was also taken to play the All-Ireland U21 hurling final (from 2017 onwards) earlier in the year, before the All-Ireland senior hurling final is held.
It was also agreed this afternoon to introduce an U17 championship for 2017 to ensure players eligible for that age group will have a competition in that calendar year.
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.
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