RADICAL PROPOSALS ON TABLE FOR CENTRAL COUNCIL

TODAY’S Central Council meeting could be one of the most pivotal in GAA history with proposals on changes to football’s playing rules and a tiered SFC Championship.

A limit of three consecutive handpasses, forward only sideline kicks, an attacking mark, a sin bin and restrictions to the kick-out have been proposed and trialled in nine games featuring teams at every level in recent weeks.

If accepted today, the rules will be approved for the 2019 League.

The GAA body will also consider two motions to bring a second-tier Gaelic football competition before Congress early next year.

The Central Council received two recommendations from the CCCC with both maintaining the current provincial championship format.

Version 1 dictates that sides from Division 3 and Division 4 of the NFL who are eliminated in the first two rounds of the qualifiers go into a straight knockout tournament.

Version 2 stipulates that Division 3 and Division 4 sides will be sent straight into the B competition upon their elimination from the provincial championships, unless they reach the decider.

A revamp of the hurling League is also up for discussion today. (1.30pm).

Most neutrals will have their eyes on the other semi-final featuring club giants Kilmacud and Portlaoise in Parnell Park (2pm).

It’s the Dublin champions who carry the weight of expectations, priced at 1/3, with star forward Paul Mannion blazing a trail through the championship to date.

The Dubs forward scored 2-6 against Dunboyne in the Leinster semi-final, on the back of a 1-6 haul in the county final success.

Previous Dublin champs St Vincent’s, Ballyboden, St Brigid’s and Ballymun have all ended Portlaoise’s hopes in the last decade.

But Portlaoise, champions in Laois for the 11th time in 12 seasons, will not lack for confidence after dethroning reigning provincial champions Moorefield with a degree of comfort in the quarter-final.