DEFEATED finalists in next year's Leinster and Munster championships wilt re-enter the All-Ireland championship. In an impressive tribute to the campaign run by the Hurling Development Committee, the weekend's GAA Congress voted overwhelmingly for the proposals to reform the All-Ireland hurling championships.

The proposals were adopted for a two-year trial period, starting in 1997. The defeated Munster and Leinster finalists will play in the All-Ireland quarter-finals; the champions in the two provinces will go straight into the All-Ireland semi-finals.

There will also be a reconstructed championship at junior level, and the re-introduction of the intermediate championship.

After all the procedural wrangling and the lengthy wait for president Jack Boothman's ruling on whether the proposals would require a simple or two-thirds majority to be passed, the final vote on motion Is (a) was unexpectedly decisive.

Boothman, who had failed to make a ruling on the matter at Central Council on Friday night, eventually intervened, as hands were being raised to vote, to say that a simple majority would be sufficient. When the votes were counted, it became apparent that the proposals had received a two-thirds majority anyway.

The debate had been intense, with most speakers in favour of the proposals. Opposition cent red on the provision concerning the beaten Leinster and Munster finalists. There were contributions from two past-presidents, Con Murphy of Cork and Waterford's Pat Fanning, who both spoke against the position of their respective counties: Murphy vehemently opposed and Fanning in favour.

At the start of the year, the Committee's proposals looked dead, but a remarkable whistle-stop tour undertaken by the committee's secretary Frank Murphy of Cork and Pat Daly, the GAA's Games Development Officer, had completely turned the position around.

On the day, the most telling contribution probably came from Nicky Brennan, the Kilkenny county manager, whose cogent argument in favour of the proposals was the most powerful advocacy of the morning.

"Kilkenny supports it. I should say that in the light of comments I made about the game two years ago (his speech at the 1994 Congress that hurling was in crisis). These proposals are comprehensive and radical and need to be. At a hurling workshop in Leinster half those present said numbers were falling.

They mentioned cost and training in primary schools. Two thirds mentioned training in secondary schools and 100 per cent agreed the game needed more television exposure.

"There are also the new competitions. Why shouldn't division three and four teams have the chance to contest an All-Ireland final? They deserve exposure for the work being done. It's not just two more games on TV, it's a higher profile for hurlers. And the revenue means increased funding for coaching and equipment."

Frank Murphy also made what was by his standards a more subdued contribution, but his work on behalf of the proposals had already been done with spectacular results.

The most effective contribution from the weaker hurling counties came from Adrian Murray of Westmeath, who said it would be a "tragedy if the proposals are to be lost on the senior championship's provisions. Being annihilated year after year is doing nothing for hurling in Westmeath. All we are asking for is a fair crack of the whip.

Frank Burke (Galway) opened the case in favour: "We support this experiment. Galway from a position of privilege are willing to forfeit that privilege. We make that sacrifice with the deepest of thought for the game of hurling.

"There is a need for major structural change, more quality games, and the general impact on promotion that television brings. It will also restore profile to the minor hurling semi-finals. They deserve the status if we are to have an impact in schools."

Jimmy Grey (Dublin) added: "This is far more than just an exercise in changing the championship. Hurling is not in as healthy a state as we'd like to see it. The only thing we can do for young people is to have a vibrant championship. We must have more high-class, profile games on television to interest young people and get them playing."

Brendan Ward (Offaly) was the first speaker against the motion: "Our situation is that we are not against change. We looked for the open draw in Leinster and since came in 15 or so years ago, we have been there or thereabouts. These proposals are not for the betterment of the championship. Whoever contests the final, it's not the same to let losers in by the back door.

"We hear a lot that hurling is going downhill. Is it because of the success of Offaly, Galway and Clare that they are saying that?"

He was supported by Oliver Kelly (Ant rim): "The creation of more games is not a panacea. This proposal means the absolute denigrating of hurling in Ulster and in those counties who have worked to make themselves strongest in the province.

"It assists the elevation of defeated counties by the back door. I object to experimentation with the championship. If we want to assist minor hurling, we can do it in different ways.

It was successfully tried in the (Football) League a few years ago and the meeting of stronger and weaker counties drew record crowds. But it wasn't kept up. If we're not prepared to experiment with the League, why downgrade the championship?"

Tony Dempsey of Wexford responded: "First, how can anyone say hurling isn't facing crisis. Second I haven't heard any alternatives from those who oppose these proposals."

Other motions passed at the GAA congress included the extension of the parentage rule to cover the home club of a Dublin-born player's mother as well as the father, and the closing of the loophole which facilitated Paul Bealin lining out for Ballyboden St Enda's in the Dublin and Leinster championships after he had already played at intermediate level for another club.

Another motion affecting Dublin, and proposed by the county. was passed to allow players who transfer from one county to another to play League with their new county - regardless of where they played the previous championship.