LAST UPDATE | 2 hrs ago

A MOTION TO reinstate Gaelic football’s pre-season competitions was defeated in a vote at Central Council today.

The future of the pre-season competitions was left hanging in the balance after an earlier vote had been ruled void.

Various parties debated if the Dr McKenna, O’Byrne and McGrath Cups, along with the FBD League, could be brought back, having been scrapped after a meeting of Central Council last month.

A Motion tabled by Cavan requested if they could be reinstated for 2025, given the strong possibility that the Football Review Committee’s new rules could be voted through in next month’s Special Congress.

The debate went on for a considerable period, but when a vote was taken it lost by three votes, with 60% of the vote required. However, some delegates abstained so the 60% was not calculated correctly.

An objection then followed, but with a sizeable number of county delegates already on their way home, an electronic vote was scheduled for Saturday evening, with that vote subsequently defeated at 57%. 

Meanwhile, Ard Chomhairle voted unanimously to forward the proposed ‘enhanced’ Gaelic football rules to a Special Congress at Croke Park on 30 November.

As expected, a number of agreed amendments were set.

A goal is to remain at three points, with the ‘four-point goal’ trialled at Croke Park last weekend abandoned.

The value of a point scored from a ‘45’ metre kick will also remain at one point. However, scores kicked from outside the 40-metre arc will be rewarded with two points, indicated by the raising of an orange flag by umpires.

A black card offence for deliberately holding up an opposing player will read: “To prevent or restrict, or to attempt to prevent or restrict, an opponent from moving or from playing the ball, by holding up an opponent.”

The penalty for a goalkeeper receiving a pass outside of the agreed rules will be from the position the goalkeeper received the pass. If the goalkeeper is inside the 13m line when in receipt of the pass, the free will be from the 13m line opposite where the foul occurred.

In other news, the Allianz Football League Division 1 trophy will be renamed Corn Mhíchíl Uí Mhuircheartaigh in honour of the late RTÉ broadcaster.

With reporting from Ciarán Kennedy.