Donegal will not be supporting either new All-Ireland championship proposal

The Donegal GAA County Executive have said they will “cannot support any notion of amendments or tweaks being made to either proposal” ahead of tomorrow’s Special Congress into restructuring the All-Ireland Football Championship.

Proposal B, which would see the championship take on a National League-style format, is gaining popularity ahead of the GAA's Special Congress, with the outlook for Proposal A - four provincial groups of eight that would see preliminary losers in one province moving to another – less positive.

Donegal GAA this evening released a statement, penned by secretary Declan Martin, which states they feel their is a need for change, but they do not accept the recommendation of former GAA President John Horan, who asked counties to consider a two-year trial of Proposal B.

The statement in full reads:

“Last evening, Thursday October 21st was the first opportunity for Coiste Bainistiochta to discuss the motions on the Clár of the Special Congress tomorrow Saturday.

“Our meeting could only be arranged after a briefing of County Treasurers at a National County Treasurers online meeting on the financial implications of the proposed motions on Thursday last October 14th, the County Chairpersons and Central Council Delegates were invited to a similar online briefing on Monday this week (October 18th) and this was followed by an in-person meeting of the Ulster County Chairpersons, County Secretaries and Central Council Delegates on Tuesday (October 19th) in the Armagh City Hotel.

“The former President John Horan suggested at the end of Monday's online briefing that Croke Park may well withdraw Motion 18 (Proposal A) on the day of Special Congress. He asked for the delegates to consider accepting Motion 19 (Proposal B) in its current format for a two-year trial period in 2023 and 2024 and allow 'tweaks' between Special Congress on Saturday and Congress 2022 next February.

“This has not been accepted by our delegates as a way forward or indeed was not acceptable to any of the other eight counties of Ulster at Tuesday's meeting. This creates an unclear Clár going into Special Congress which has not been helpful in the past few days.

“The County Executive committee fully recognise and accept that change to the championship structures is required but are overwhelmingly agreed that neither Proposal A or Proposal B will deliver a fair and equitable change for all counties plus London and New York. We also cannot support any notion of amendments or tweaks being made to either proposal either on Saturday or subsequent to either of them being passed with a 60% majority.

“It is the firm position of Coiste Bainistiochta Dhun na nGall that updated and fresh proposals should be on the Clár of Congress 2022 in February that will deliver the championship structure that all counties desire and that will serve the Association well for many years into the future.

“Is mise le meas, Declan Ó'Mairtín, Runaí, CLG Dhún na nGall.”