Justin: Cork clash nonsensical

WATERFORD boss Justin McCarthy has criticised proposed plans for a play-off against Cork to decide their placing in the Allianz NHL quarter-finals.

The sides finished level on points but Croke Park bosses may not use scoring averages as per regulations after Cork’s failure to contest the first two games of the league. A decision will be taken by the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) in Croke Park this morning.

But as McCarthy pointed out both sides have qualified for the last eight, with a proposed tie simply deciding who plays either Kilkenny or Galway.

Said McCarthy: “We were not expecting any game because we had other plans. And we have a lot of fellows out injured. We’ll have to wait and see and weigh up the situation after the meeting,” he said.

“It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to have a game. It would be different if it was about one team going up and another team going down.

“That would be a more serious situation, but we are both in the quarter-finals. There is no real issue!”

It emerged yesterday that the counties in Division 1A were put on notice last Thursday that in the event of “the necessity” for any play-off, it would take place next Sunday.

If the CCCC were to use scoring difference, Cork would finish second in the group — on the basis that their “difference” (between scores for and against) is +24, compared to Waterford’s +14.

The regulations specify that in the event of two counties finishing with the same difference, the “highest score for” would be used to determine positions.

Alternatively, the result of the game involving the counties would be used (not applicable in the case of Cork and Waterford).

Wexford and Dublin will also wait this morning’s meeting with interest, in the certain belief that the CCCC will agree to a play-off between the counties to decide who will be relegated from Division 1A along with Antrim. Dublin’s scoring difference is better (-13), compared to Wexford’s (-23).

Wexford chairman Ger Doyle has no doubt that there will be a play-off required to determine the relegation issue, even through Cork did fulfil their fixtures against both counties. He said that the Board was still awaiting official notification as to when the Central Hearings Committee will hear their appeal against the decision to award the points forfeited by Cork to Waterford and Kilkenny (with Roscommon having lodged a similar appeal in relation to the NFL).

The confusion over the finishing places in Division 1A means that Limerick and Tipperary are in the dark about their opponents in the quarter-finals. If the CCCC were to use scoring difference, it would be Tipperary v Waterford and Limerick v Cork. Otherwise, the result of a play-off would decide the pairings.

Kilkenny and Galway are through to the semi-finals as the respective group winners and when it comes to deciding on the pairings, the regulations set out that repeat games should be avoided where possible.

Meanwhile, the National Hurling League will revert to eight-team groupings in Divisions One and Two from next year, a year later than planned. The Hurling Development Committee (HDC) favoured a nine-team Division One grouping last year but following the strong case made by Offaly (who had been relegated), it was decided to stick with two six-team groupings for 2008. While the HDC makes recommendations on the Leagues, it’s the Central Council which adjudicates on their actual structure and the proposal to re-introduce eight-team groups was re-affirmed at a Council meeting earlier in the year. Division One will comprise the top four teams each from Divisions 1A and 1B. Seven of the teams are already known, Kilkenny, Cork, Waterford, Galway, Tipperary, Limerick and Clare, with the eighth position to be decided by the outcome of the Dublin/Wexford situation — in other words a relegation play-off.

Each county will have seven games and the top two will meet to decide the ultimate champions.

Division Two will include the bottom two teams from Divisions 1A and 1B — foe example, Laois and Offaly, Antrim and either Dublin or Wexford — and the leading two teams from Divisions 2A and 2B. They are Westmeath, Kerry, Carlow and Down. Singularly, the first and second placed teams will meet in the decider. Division Three will be divided in 3A and 3B groupings of six teams each, featuring Kildare, Mayo, Wicklow, Roscommon, Meath, Ferry, Armagh, London, Donegal, Louth, Longford and Tyrone. There will be six teams competing in Division Four — Sligo, South Down, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Cavan and Leitrim.