The Allianz Football and Hurling Leagues will be run off on a more condensed format in 2017.
This has been managed by making a variety of tweaks to the structures that were in place this year.
In football, there will be no Division One semi-finals. Instead, the top two teams will contest the final one week after the Round 7 matches have been contested.
In hurling, on a pilot basis in 2017, the Allianz League hurling quarter-finals and semi-finals will finish on the day the games are played avoiding the need for replays.
If games in these competitions are level after two separate periods of extra time have been played, the outcome will be decided by a free-taking competition.
These measures mean that the Finals of the Allianz Football Leagues and the Division 1 Hurling League Final will be played a fortnight earlier than they have been heretofore, thus freeing up additional time for club programmes.
Another change to the Allianz Hurling League structure is the removal of the promotion/relegation play-offs. Instead there will be automatic promotion for the division winners.
The decision of Fingal to withdraw from hurling competitions this year means there will be no relegation from Division 3A and there will be a double round of games in this division.
"These measures mean that the Finals of the Allianz Football Leagues and the Division 1 Hurling League Final will be played a fortnight earlier than they have been heretofore, thus freeing up additional time for club programmes."
So do they plan to start the inter/county season a few weeks earlier aswell to free up space for club games in the summer?
....Or does this just mean there'll be a glut of club games everywhere in late April/early May, followed by the usual 10-to-15 week layoff with no club action?...
All positive changes which should help those trying to fix club games. Will be a small loss in income for the GAA as well at intercounty level which might help demonstrate to the usual bores that it's not all about money.