LEINSTER PUSHING FOR NEW DELEGATE SYSTEM

LEINSTER COUNCIL are submitting a motion to Congress next month to radically shake up the delegate system that operates in the GAA.

Clubs and counties appoint special delegates to county boards, provincial councils and Central Council to represent them.

But Leinster are revisiting a recommendation from the Strategic Review that would see officers more centrally involved in decision-making represent their units instead of dedicated delegates.

Leinster chief executive Michael Reynolds outlined that his body’s management and finance committee are proposing that clubs are presented at a county board meeting by their chairperson, secretary or treasurer and that counties are represented at provincial level by a chairman or secretary and one other.

For Central Council a chairman or secretary would be the most appropriate representatives, Leinster feel.

Elsewhere, the fixture details have been announced for the four All-Ireland club semi-finals that were postponed last weekend due to adverse weather conditions.

The All-Ireland club IFC semi-finals between Roscommon’s Michael Glavey’s and Wexford outfit Kilanerin, and Kerry side An Ghaeltacht and Tyrone’s Moy will now take place this Saturday at Lakepoint Park, Mullingar and Semple Stadium respectively.

On the same afternoon, the AllIreland club IHC semi-final between Middletown (Armagh) and Kanturk (Cork), and the All-Ireland club JHC semifinal involving Setanta (Donegal) and Ardmore (Waterford) have been fixed for Newbridge and Navan respectively.

Elsewhere, Westmeath have named the captains of their football and hurling teams.

John Heslin will lead Colin Kelly’s footballers for the 2018 season, taking over from Ger Egan, while Tommy Doyle succeeds Aonghus Clarke to skipper the hurlers.

Meanwhile, the Limerick footballers will be without the experienced duo Johnny McCarthy and Seanie Buckley after they announced their retirement from inter-county football.

Former All-Star nominee McCarthy made his debut in 2009 with Buckley joining the panel a year later.