Bonnar points way forward for league
The Model County manager expressed the view that counties like Wexford, Clare, Limerick and Offaly should be in NHL Division One, and not in the lower tiers.
He made the interesting point that the hurling leagues were being fitted into a model designed for football, suitable for football and good for football.
He argued that the football model of four divisions, with automatic promotion or relegation was ill-suited to hurling and bad for the game, especially for traditional counties like Offaly, Wexford, Clare and Limerick.
An interesting concept, no doubt. Except, the National Leagues aren’t really a concept designed for football. In fact this ‘football’ concept is one that is used the world over for all types of leagues in all types of sports. It’s called the meritocracy theory. It combines mathematics with sport. The idea being that you have as many divisions as necessary, with an even number of teams in all divisions, so that all teams will be playing in each round – you give a certain amount of points, for a win and a draw and none for a defeat. You gain promotion by consistent victories and demotion by consistent losses. The number of teams promoted or relegated is a matter for the organisers.
This universal system works well for most sports and, by and large, very few have any complaints about it.
Bonnar shipped some criticism for saying it shouldn’t apply to hurling. But has he a point? I think he has. He may be wrong in saying that the system designed primarily for football shouldn’t apply to hurling – but his point in posing the question – is this system suitable for the NHL at this time is very valued. I agree fully with him.
The problem in hurling is that it is such a fast, skilful game that the standard between each of the divisions varies enormously. Bonnar correctly pointed out most inter-county football teams regardless of divisional status can compete against each other. It is quite probable that NFL Division Four champions Limerick, could meet Kerry or Cork in this year’s Munster Championship. Have they any chance of competing against either? Have they what?
Cast your mind back to last year’s Munster final where Limerick had Cork on the ropes but failed to land the killer blow. Sligo the Division 3 champions will be playing Mayo, the Division 1 finalists, in a few week’s time in the Connacht Championship. You’d be very foolish to put your house on the outcome there.
Compare that to hurling. What chance would you give a Division Three team against the top tier? Even in Division Two, if you take out the MacCarthy Cup teams, the rest wouldn’t beat a Division One side if they met them every day of the week. While we have contenders across the board football, we don’t have anything as competitive in hurling.
It is into this framework we must consider Bonnar’s contention and that is why I agree with him. We spent years fiddling around with the MacCarthy Cup, discussing it at special congress and annual congresses in an effort to fit it into a mathematical formula. After much dithering it was decided to forward a motion for ratification at congress that allows the traditional MacCarthy Cup teams play in the competition without any threat of relegation coupled with the option of voluntary promotion for the Christy Ring Cup winners.
A hurling solution to a hurling problem, yet sensible and practical. Bonnar wants something similar for the NHL. Does it make much sense to legislate to keep teams in the MacCarthy Cup, your premier competition and at the same time, confine some of the same teams to Division Two, with little completion or much incentive?
The GAA’s aim of having at least 12 teams as realistic contenders for the Liam MacCarthy Cup cannot be achieved by the current league set-up.
If you want to be the best you must play the best. Teams like Clare and Limerick have a far better chance of climbing the ladder to glory by playing top-class opposition week in, week out than by playing weaker opposition. What was done for the Hurling Championship at Congress in April needs to be done for the leagues as well. The sooner it happens the better. Colm Bonnar has pointed the way forward for the betterment of the game.
Let’s make it happen.
