Peter Canavan and Maurice Deegan join GAA's Football Review Committee

Peter Canavan and former inter-county referee Maurice Deegan have joined the GAA's Football Review Committee (FRC).

At a Central Council meeting today at Croke Park, the pair were approved to join the group chaired by Jim Gavin to replace original committee members Michael Murphy and Malachy O’Rourke.

Murphy has come out of inter-county retirement to link back up with Jim McGuinness in Donegal, while O’Rourke has bowed out after succeeding Fergal Logan and Brian Dooher as Tyrone manager.

Canavan has previously spoken of his admiration for the work of the FRC while also questioning whether there are too many changes for officials to deal with.

GAA's Special Congress gave a resounding backing to the rule changes proposed by the FRC in November – no rule change received less than 73% backing as delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of change – and the opening weekend of the Allianz Football League on 25/26 January will give supporters the first chance to see the application of the rule changes in competitive fixtures.

Meanwhile former Dublin hurling manager Humphrey Kelleher has been appointed to the Hurling Development Committee.