The lowering of the Minor age grade from Under-18 to Under-17 was one of the main talking points from last weekend's GAA Congress in Carlow.
From 2018, the new rules will come into place. That rule change means that players born in 2000 will not be able to play minor football or hurling unless they played in 2017 as a 17-year-old.
According to the Irish Independent, the GAA are considering introducing a one-off Under-18 All-Ireland Championships in football and hurling in 2018 to lessen the blow on underage players.
Galway celebrate winning last year's Minor Hurling Championship. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan
With the All-Ireland Minor Finals keeping their places on the calendar as curtain-raisers to the Senior finals, it remains to be seen where the Under-18 Finals will be fitted into the already over-crowed calendar.
The age-change to minor level was introduced to help players especially during their Leaving Cert studies. The Under-18 Champioship may be played late in the summer once the Leaving Cert examinations are completed.
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