Down's position on the upcoming special congress on the deletion of Rule 21 will not be known until two days before the November 17th meeting.

It has been decided that the county's clubs will vote on the issue by secret ballot and the votes will not be counted until the evening of the 15th with the result being kept secret if possible until the day of the congress.

The result is seen as being of great significance to the overall outcome. It is accepted that Down holds out the best chance of a cross-border county throwing its weight behind abolition - something that would greatly enhance the chances of the proposal gaining the necessary two-thirds majority.

This approach reflects two aspects of the county's approach. Firstly, the feeling within the GAA in general appears to be that everything possible should be done to avoid the impression of pressurising those who continue to support the rule. Although the county defeated the proposal to abolish the provision before the special congress of 1998, an annual convention in January 1995 saw Down become the first - and so far only - cross-border county to vote for repeal.

Last night, Dublin voted to abolish the rule, but tonight the debate on the issue moves to a more crucial county. Cork, the biggest southern county to object to repeal three years ago, will decide which way to go this evening. Tyrone will also make up its mind.