Second-tier All-Ireland Football Championship

Tuesday 11th September 2018

Central Council have, once again, given their approval to the establishment of a second-tier All-Ireland Football Championship.

At a meeting on Saturday, there was widespread approval, in principle, for a new competition that would run concurrently with the main Championship, finishing on the same day as the All-Ireland final and displacing the traditional minor final curtain-raiser in Croke Park.

The structure has yet to be worked out, but counties will be invited to make submissions to the Central Competitions Controls Committee (CCCC) who will consider a new format to be sent to next year's Congress.

A second-tier Championship is the stated aim of current GAA President John Horan during his three-year term. But it is an ambitious move considering how badly it failed when it was previously set for Congress in 2016 and was withdrawn prior to the weekend because of a lack of support.

Central Council now feel, however, that the mood has changed, and with All-Ireland final day billing it would have the status that it needs to succeed.