The GAA will hold a Special Congress via conference call next Friday to allow changes to this year’s Championships due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

It comes after Central Council held a remote meeting yesterday and the Irish Mirror is reporting that Special Congress will give power to the GAA’s Management Committee to make decisions on the Championship format, which looks set to be altered.

Government restrictions are expected to be left in place until the end of the month or beyond, which will delay the start of the Championship season. 

The GAA intends to give counties at least a two week period to prepare for games so it's highly unlikely at this stage, the Championships will be underway on May 9th as currently planned.

Any delay could lead to a move away from the round-robin format in the provincial hurling championship and the Super 8's in the football championship.

The tier two Tailteann Cup in football, which was due to be played this year for the first time could also be scrapped.

There has plenty of speculation that there will be a straight knockout Championship in both codes due to a shorter season but it's believed the GAA will try to avoid that format, if possible.

The GAA’s director of games administration Feargal McGill said recently that if they get started by mid-June, the All-Ireland final dates in August will remain in place.