The GAA are to consider changing the formats of their inter-county football and hurling championships.

Among the proposed changes is a new competition for counties knocked out in the first two rounds of the football qualifiers.

The qualifying matches were introduced two years ago to give teams knocked out of their provincial competitions a second bite at the cherry.

Previously, provincial winners automatically went into the All-Ireland semi-finals.

The plan is for matches in the new secondary competition to be staged as curtain-raisers for games in the latter stages of the main All-Ireland Championship.

The plans have been put forward by the GAA's fixtures task force, under the chairmanship of Pauric Duffy.

Changes in the hurling championship have also been put forward.

If adopted, the senior hurling championship would be confined to 12 teams.

Eight teams, including the Ulster champions, would be involved in a qualifying system to get into the main championship.

Separate intermediate and junior hurling championship are also in the pipeline.