A round-up of today's other GAA news in brief...

Proposed new format

Even before this year's hurling championship is concluded, the attention is switching to next year as a new format is proposed. Details of the new structure were outlined yesterday and will go before a Special Congress on October 4th for approval. The main stumbling block may be the inclusion of Antrim and Galway in a 'Leinster' championship.

In the meantime, a new four-tier structure is being proposed by the Hurling Development Committee (HDC), which will see an additional tier to the current system, with the fourth competition, proposed to be called the Lory Meagher Cup, to cater for teams at the bottom end of the hurling structure.

In the proposed changes for 2009 the Leinster championship will comprise of seven teams: Kilkenny, Wexford, Offaly, Laois, Dublin, Galway Antrim. The reigning champions (Kilkenny) automatically get into the semi-final, with the other six pairing off.

The three first-round losers will meet up with the loser from the first round in Munster in Pool One. The other pool will be the beaten semi-finalists in Munster and Leinster. The top two in each pool will play in crossover games.

There will then be quarter-finals involving the beaten provincial finalists, with the winners of those playing the Leinster and Munster champions respectively in the semi-final.

The Ulster Championship will remain in place for the 2009 season. Along with their involvement in Leinster, Antrim are expected to play in their own provincial series.

Kennedy v Walsh

Croke Park plays host to the All-Ireland handball finals, set for the Irish Handball Centre on Saturday.

The main event will be the men's senior singles final, featuring defending champion, Dublin's Eoin Kennedy, against Kilkenny's Michael "Ducksy" Walsh.

Kennedy is now aiming for his fifth title in succession, but Walsh will be out to make amends for last year's final defeat.

"I do feel that I didn't play to my potential last year and I'm hoping to give Eoin a better game on Saturday," said Walsh yesterday.

ALL-IRELAND FINAL LINE-UP

Irish Handball Centre, Croke Park

(Saturday, from 3pm)

Minor Singles: S O'Carroll (Limerick) v G McConnell (Meath). Intermediate Doubles: G Coonan, M McNerney (Tipperary) v I Griffin, K Hennessy (Dublin). Ladies Senior Singles: B Hennessy (Limerick) v A Prendeville (Kerry). Senior Singles: Michael 'Ducksy' Walsh (Kilkenny) v Eoin Kennedy (Dublin).