Tier two is voted in
Wexford backed changes to football
IT WAS an historic Saturday for the G.A.A. when they gathered in Cork, as the Association decided to install a second tier football championship.
More than 75% of delegates agreed to the change which represents a significant victory for President John Horan who had championed the introduction of this new competition since his election to the highest office.
The G.A.A. also decided that eligibility for tiers one and two will be based on the outcome of the 2020 National Football Leagues, sending teams that finish in Division 3 and 4 directly into the tier two competition if they fail to reach a provincial final.
Horan also promised delegates that the G.A.A. would push the new competition to avoid it suffering the same collapse in public interest experienced by other attempts at tiered competitions at inter-county level.
The result of Saturday’s vote sends 16 Division 3 and 4 teams – including Wexford - into a tier two knockout competition next year if they fail to make the provincial final, and that all but guarantees that we will be one of those contestants.
With the elegibility for the All-Ireland championship reliant on the finishing positions at the end of the National League, it will make for some interesting games in Divisions 2 and 3. For example, Cork are in Division 3 so will be gunning for promotion.
Wexford were one of the counties that supported the introduction of the tier two championship, which all but rules the county out of the All-Ireland championship title race unless they win through their opening round game and continue through to a provincial final.
Now the way forward for new manager Paul Galvin is to secure successive promotions in the National League.
A number of playing rule changes were also passed at the special
Congress in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
The attacking mark, that allows a free shot at goal for a player catching the ball cleanly on or inside the 45-metre line from a kick in play that has travelled at least 20 metres without touching the ground, was passed with 68.9% of the votes cast.
There will now be a ten-minute sin-bin for any player who has committed a black card foul. If the player commits a further black card offence on resuming play, he will receive a red card. Passed: 73.8%.
All kick-outs are to be taken from the 20-metre line and shall be kicked forward. Passed: 83.1%.