By Cian O'Connell

GAA President Aogan O'Fearghail is adamant 'substantial progress' is being made to help with the scheduling of club fixtures.

Saturday's Special Congress at Croke Park saw Motions 16 passed which means two five minute periods of extra-time can now be played in All Ireland Football Qualifiers, National League knockout fixtures and Provincial Club Championship games.

Motion 17 was also carried meaning that if a replay of a provincial final ends in a draw after extra-time two additional periods of extra time of five minutes each will be necessary.

"As Paraic (Duffy) was saying there are issues and challenges, but we have made substantial progress," O'Fearghail says. "There are facts that are incontrovertible - there are now more weekends free for club, that’s a simple fact. If you’re going to start (inter-county championship) in May and finish in mid-August there are going to be an awful lot more weekends. 

"You saw all the motions that were passed in relation to extra-time and matches being finished on the day. That’s going to impact strongly. 

"I saw it in my own county, if Cavan won a game, no club games were played. You were idle and my own club used to be so frustrated, sitting, waiting. 

"All of that changes and there will be substantial improvement. After the last two Congresses and this Special Congress they are substantial."