Positive result for Meath at GAA Special Congress

Meath hurling manager Nick Fitzgerald will have plenty of challenges to prepare for as the build up to the new-look hurling championships begin to take shape following decisions at yesterday's GAA Special Congress.

The motion put forward by Meath was successful and now the Royal County can look forward to 2018 Tier 2 Championship next April or May with plenty of optimism.

An amendment to the main motion from Meath (Laois and Offaly) was carried by 87 per cent to 13 per cent. 

This will see the Tier 2 championship finalists participating in preliminary All-Ireland quarter-finals against the third-placed teams from Munster and Leinster with the Tier 2 teams having home advantage.

The new All-Ireland SHC format will be in place for the next three years after the Central Council motion for change was carried yesterday with 62 per cent support.

The Liam MacCarthy Cup will be reduced to 10 teams with the five-team Munster and Leinster championships played on a round-robin basis. 

There will also be promotion and relegation between the Tier 2 Championship and the Liam MacCarthy Cup. 

The Tier 2 championship will include Meath, Laois, Kerry, Westmeath, Antrim, Carlow.

The finalists from the Tier 2 competition meet the third-placed teams in Munster and Leinster in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals.