THE GAA is planning to build a new administrative headquarters. This emerged at yesterday's release of the association's finances for 2007, which included the acquisition of properties necessary for the development of a new ceannáras.
Although the revelation came as a surprise, both GAA director general Páraic Duffy and Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna pointed out that the current offices, situated on the premium level at the Davin Stand (Canal End) of the ground, were never intended to be a permanent fixture.
The GAA's old administration block, Davin House, was demolished in 1999 to make way for the construction of the new Hogan Stand, and the headquarters staff had to move to rented office accommodation in nearby Westward House.
Whereas no details of the proposed development were announced, it is understood that the project will take at least three years to complete.
Meanwhile, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has reshuffled his defence for Saturday's vital clash with Laois at Omagh. Justin McMahon comes in at full back, allowing Conor Gormley to move out to his natural central defensive slot. Dermot Carlin moves from centre back to left corner back, with Martin Swift losing out.
The only other change sees John Devine take over from Johnny Curran in goal.
Monaghan manager Séamus McEnaney names an unchanged team for the top-of-the-table match against Dublin in Parnell Park on Saturday night.
The side that recorded an injury-time win over Armagh two weeks ago will be hoping to extend the team's 100-per-cent start to the season.
When the teams last met in the NFL two years ago, also at Parnell Park, Monaghan were convincing winners and a repeat performance would make the county hot favourites to reach the final and secure promotion.
Elsewhere, Wexford hurling manager John Meyler has made three changes in personnel and a number of positional switches for the visit of Dublin to Wexford Park next Sunday.
The latest bruising by Kilkenny sees Eoin Quigley, Diarmuid Lyng and Barry Lambert make way for Dennis Morton at centre back, with Willie Doran switching to attack, Ciarán Kenny at wing back and Colm Farrell at centrefield, with Michael Jacob moving to the forwards.
The county's footballers seek to consolidate a fine start to their Division Three campaign when they travel to Limerick also on Sunday with an unchanged team from the line-up that defeated McKenna Cup winners Down in the last round. Another win will leave them in the driving seat for reaching the divisional play-off.
WEXFORD (SF v Limerick): A Masterson; C Morris, P Wallace, D Walsh; N O'Sullivan, B Malone, P Curtis; E Bradley, B Doyle; B Brosnan, R Barry, A Flynn; C Byrne, S Roche, M Forde.
WEXFORD (SH v Dublin): D Fitzhenry; M Travers, K Rossiter, P Roche; R Kehoe, D Morton, C Kenny; C Farrell, J O'Connor; W Doran, M Doyle, M Jacob; D Redmond, S Nolan, R Jacob.
CORK (NFL v Westmeath): A Quirke; D Duggan, G Canty, K O'Connor; N O'Leary, G Spillane, O Sexton; A O'Connor, N Murphy; J Miskella, P O'Neill, K McMahon; D Goulding, M Cussen, D O'Connor.
GALWAY (NFL v Donegal): A Faherty; K Fitzgerald, F Hanley, D Burke; G Sice, N Coyne, D Mullahy; P Geraghty, N Coleman; E Hoare, P Joyce, D Meehan; M Clancy, M Meehan, F Breathnach.
TYRONE (SF v Laois): J Devine; PJ Quinn, J McMahon, D Carlin; D Harte, C Gormley, R McMenamin; K Hughes, E McGinley; R Mellon, R Mulgrew, S Cavanagh; T McGuigan, C McCullagh, O Mulligan.
MONAGHAN (SF v Dublin): P McBennett; D Mone, JP Mone, D McArdle; D Freeman, G McQuaid, P McGuigan; D Clerkin, E Lennon; C McManus, V Corey, P Finlay; R Woods, R Ronaghan, T Freeman.
