Changes to league system

QUARTER and semi-final games have been dispensed with for the next two years in the National Football League, while a decision on what a promotion and relegation policy in hurling will be decided at the December meeting of the Central Council.

The decision, which will see the top two teams in each group meeting in the finals, was defended yesterday by the Chairman of the Central Competitions Control Committee Jimmy Dunne on the basis that it would alleviate pressure on clubs by freeing up more Sundays.

“We expect that the decision will be criticised and that the argument will be made that it is denying counties income from participating in quarter-finals and semi-finals,’’ he commented. “It’s really about the club versus money. The counties can’t have it both ways.’’ The programme of games for football and hurling was given the seal of approval by the Management Committee at its weekend meeting and will apply for a two-year cycle, starting in 2008.

Another change introduced by the CCCC relates to the timing of games. They decided that, with the obvious exception of floodlit fixtures on Saturday night (7pm) and those played in London, all games on Sunday will start at 2.30pm — meaning that there will be no change after the hour goes forward in March.

According to Dunne, the reasoning behind this is to facilitate travelling teams..

While there will be even more floodlit games (with Ballybofey the latest ground to have a suitable system installed), he said it hadn’t been possible to open the National Football League programme with a game in Croke Park.

In ideal circumstances they would have done so, given the success of the Dublin/Tyrone game last year. But Dublin were drawn against Westmeath for their opening game (under lights in Parnell Park) and it would ‘simply not be possible’ to change the sequence of fixtures.

All going well, in other words that the threatened GPA strike will not take place, the opening round of the NFL will be played on Saturday, September 2. And the feature of three games in Division One under lights will be the meeting of title-holders Donegal and All-Ireland champions Kerry in Ballybofey.

Both Dublin and Cork are in Division two, and Meath will be renewing rivalry with championship conquerors Cork in Navan.

The opening games in hurling will take place, on Sunday February 10. In Division 1a, League champions Waterford will be at home to Wexford, while All-Ireland champions Kilkenny will be away to Cork.

The same day, in Division 1b, Galway will be at home to Clare in a game which will bring Ger Loughnane and Mike McNamara into direct opposition.