Handpass, Europe and New York among Congress hurling motions

This weekend's GAA Congress at Donegal will see a focus on a new football championship structure and potential green light for provincial and All-Ireland replays, but there are some interesting hurling motions flying under the radar.

Maastricht GAA have called for Rule 6.12 (C) of the official guide to be amended to allow Europe compete in the Lory Meagher Cup in 2026.

If this proposal is successful it would need to be approved on an annual basis by Central Council following proposals from the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC).

Central Council and the CCCC also have a proposal that New York GAA would compete in this year’s Lory Meagher Cup with a general format outlined to allow six teams play on a round-robin basis.

Each county would have three home games and two away games which shall rotate every other year.

The top team would qualify directly for the final with the second-place side taking on New York - in Ireland – in a semi-final.

Another significant motion comes from St Mary’s, Rosslare, the home club of hurling legend Liam Griffin.

St Mary’s want a new rule inserted that every GAA club shall field at least one hurling team at Under-7, Under-8, Under-9 and/or Under-10 age grades.

Two years ago, the motion got 34.6% support and failed to pass.

Their proposal also seeks that every county would organise hurling games on the 'Go Games’ model in those age grades.

Any exclusively football club would be encouraged to demonstrate that its Under-7, Under-8, Under-9 and/or Under-10 players are afforded hurling at an exclusively hurling or dual-code club.

Unless demographics demonstrate that a club does not have the numbers to comply with this proposal, penalties for the breach of the suggested rule would result in a fine