Imperfections of competitive league can be resolved
There is concern about the pressure on Division 1A teams to avoid relegation, while it is evident certain Division 1B teams are afforded a number of easier contests and are much fresher as a result at the tailend of the competition.
The last three winners of the competition have come from 1B.
Those charged with restructuring the league must concern themselves with all levels of the inter-county game, not simply the top two divisions.
They have a responsibility to ensure the other 21 teams are in competitive divisions where the teams involved are of a similar standard.
The GAA have ruled that no change to the structure will be made for next season, but my proposal for 2019 is this:
- An eight-team Division 1A, comprising two groups of four;
- In each group, teams play one another home and away, six games for each side;
- A four-team Division 1B, with teams also playing one another home and away;
- The top two teams in each Division 1A group play one another in the league semi-finals, dispensing with quarter-finals;
- The bottom team in each Division 1A group face each other in a ‘relegation play-off’;
- The top team in Division 1B is promoted to Division 1A.
Hurling’s difficulty at the moment is there are nine teams that could be classed as tier 1.
One of these would lose again in this structure, but at least their exile would, in all likelihood, only be for a year. They’d probably earn promotion and if not, would only have themselves to blame.
Perhaps some financial reward, from the overall league ‘gates’, could be given to the 1B winners, to compensate for their absence from the top table.
It’s not a perfect solution but what made the six-team 1A structure so attractive to patrons over the past six years is the high degree of competitiveness in every contest.
There are few one-sided games and it is important for the development of the sport that this element remains.
The league has raised other questions on the playing front. Principally, how good are Tipp?
Will it be another one in a row or can manager Michael Ryan right the ship that ran aground last Sunday and steer it home in September?
He will put defeat down to one of those days when almost everyone was off colour. But the ease with which Galway cut through for goals will concern him.
Galway will now be talked up as potential All-Ireland winners. They certainly have the ability. But history is littered with impressive league victors who faltered in the championship.
Replicating a near flawless performance, as Galway served up in the second half against Tipp, would be very difficult. Expectation levels in counties craving success soar, the odds shorten, and pressure to deliver builds on the squad.
This will play into Dublin’s hands nicely. They will be written off completely ahead of the sides’ Leinster Championship meeting. There is no need to go to the history books for examples of favourites being turned over; look at Arsenal turning over Manchester City in the FA Cup.
The league also threw up concerns about Kilkenny and Waterford. Brian Cody and Derek McGrath are aware that their 2016 models will not do. Cody has defensive issues.
Sooner or later, Kilkenny may have to go with Conor Fogarty at full-back and deploy a sweeper, particularly if Michael Fennelly isn’t fit to perform as he once did.
Waterford may have to dispense with their sweeper and deploy Austin Gleeson just in front of the centre back with a licence to go forward, with Jamie Barron and Kevin Moran as traditional midfielders and a speedy combination up front.
Whatever happens, we are in for an interesting and intriguing summer.
