The GAA is to look into modifying the pitch surface at Croke Park. Since it was relaid, there have been complaints that it is hard on players' legs and, according to director general Liam Mulvihill, probably had a role in the summer's controversy over the new standard sliotar.

"The difference might be the pitch here," he said. "There seemed to be more complaints about the ball here than in other venues and footballers also complained that the surface was very hard. The grounds expert is coming over from England to meet players and discuss technical aspects of the pitch."

The sliotar will also be looked at after a summer during which it attracted far more complaints than in its debut season in 2002. Mulvihill says the problem is the composition of the ball's core.

"The Hurling Development Committee will be talking to technical people about defining precisely the core of a sliotar for manufacturers. Research has shown that a lot of sliotars don't conform to core regulations. The feeling amongst manufacturers that the livelier the ball the better is felt to have gone too far."

Waterford chairperson Paddy Joe Ryan has hit out at the draw for next season's National Football League. "Before Easter we have to travel to Derry, Down and Louth. Providing fixtures at that level is doing absolutely nothing to promote football in counties like Waterford. There should be consultation with counties before groups are finalised to enable weaker counties make a meaningful contribution to the league," he said at last night's annual convention in Dungarvan.