GAA chiefs unveil hurling format
A three-tier competition will be introduced next year, with 13 championship games to be played in the month of July alone. It represents a massive challenge for the Association on a number of fronts, according to GAC chairman Tony O’Keeffe
“It’s a huge challenge,” he stressed. “If we look at the month of July, there will be more games than there have ever been before. And if we are looking at six officials a game, then that is a challenge.
“The hurling championship has never had that before.”
The GAC have already begun planning for the expected official overload, but accept they face a difficult task.
That pressure isn’t confined to hurling - the master fixture list has made provisions for 115 inter-county games in March.
The 12 counties who occupy the first tier are those counties who participated in section one of the 2004 NHL.
There will still be provincial championships in Munster, Leinster and Ulster, with the losing teams in the first round and semi-finals of both Munster and Leinster joining Galway and Antrim in the first round of the qualifiers.
The two qualifying groups for the All-Ireland quarter-finals start on June 18, with the following rounds taking place on July 2 and July 9. Those quarter-finals will take place over two weekends, July 24 and July 31.
The teams are divided into two groups, with two from each going forward to the last eight, while the other two teams from each group meet in relegation and promotion play-offs.
The relegated team will be replaced by the second tier champions the following year.
The final of the second tier will be played as a curtain-raiser to the first semi-final of the All-Ireland SHC.
With both Down and Derry involved in the Ulster championship, and in Group 2A, it is envisaged that this tier will start a week later than Group 2B, as either Derry or Down will contest an Ulster final.
The second tier championship begins on June 4, with a series of Group 2B games.
Meanwhile, Warwickshire are seeking permission to compete in the third tier championship. If they are allowed, they will compete alongside Longford, Monaghan and London.
The other two groups are organised on a geographical basis.
The first group consists of Sligo, Tyrone, Donegal and Fermanagh, while the second group contains Louth, Cavan, Leitrim and Armagh.
The winners of each group go straight through to the All-Ireland semi-finals.
Meanwhile, the winner of the All-Ireland quarter-final will go through as the fourth semi-finalist.
The final will be played as a curtain-raiser to the second All-Ireland SHC semi-final on August 14.
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