Gaelic Athletic Association News
All-Ireland Changes
The dates for the 2006 All-Ireland hurling and football finals are each moved up one week to avoid a clash with golf's Ryder Cup. The 2006 hurling final will be played on September 3, and the 2006 football final on September 17. The 2006 Ryder Cup will be played at the K Club in Kildare from September 22-24.
GAA Congress
The GAA's annual Congress has voted to permit soccer and rugby games at Croke Park during the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, the rugby stadium first opened in 1876. It is unlikely that soccer and rugby games will be played there any time soon, but two of the complex issues that would first need to be addressed are floodlighting and stadium segregation.
While Croke Park is already wired for floodlighting, the process of installing lights would be extremely complex and costly. Assigning Hill 16 to the out-of-towners may be the way to deal with the segregation issue, as Hill 16 is already segregated from the rest of the stadium.
Rule Changes
Helmets with face guards are now compulsory for all hurlers up and including the U21 grades. Goalkeepers are also allowed the option of using plastic tees for kick outs. Congress also ratified the appointment of Liam Keane, a former member of the Seattle Gaels, as secretary of a newly established GAA arbitration process.
The independent arbitration committee will serve as a disputes resolution authority that will handle all appeals of County Board decisions. All GAA members are required by virtue of their membership of the GAA to use the arbitration route instead of the High Court. It also offers a cheaper, quicker and more flexible way to resolve disputes.
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