Camogie Association president Aileen Lawlor.

Camogie president Aileen Lawlor has said that new playing rules and the addition of quarter-final rounds will significantly enhance the excitement and quality of this year's camogie championship.

Speaking at this morning's launch in association with RTÉ Sport at Croke Park, she highlighted the importance of the new rules:

"There are a number of playing rules that come into force including the reward of two points when a player puts the sliothar over the bar direct from a sideline cut. This is one of the more difficult skills of the game and the new rule rewards the players who can achieve it.

"It also ensures that coaches and players place an emphasis on perfecting this particular skill, rewarding teams with a bonus point, and adding enormously to the game for players and fans.

"We are also focusing on ensuring that discipline remains a key priority for players and management during this year's championship. The rules help to ensure that sporting conduct is to the fore in camogie at all times."

In her first year as president of the Camogie Association, Aileen Lawlor, highlighted the addition of quarter-finals to this year's senior grade as an excellent development.

"The round-robin format is still in play but we have introduced seeding in the two senior groups, with the top two teams through to the semi-finals and the remaining runners up playing in a series of qualifiers and quarter-finals before drawing to play in the semi-final stages on August 18."