Dublin board joins opponents to new hurling league structure

DUBLIN have done a U-turn on their support for the new Allianz Hurling League structure and are now prepared to go against it.

The county board will meet GAA Director General Páraic Duffy in Croke Park today, along with the seven other counties who would have made up Division 1 next year had this season’s format been retained.

Explaining Dublin’s decision, chairman Andy Kettle pointed out their Central Council delegate had voted in favour of the new six-team divisional system without semi-finals last month on the assumption it would mean more free weekends for club games.

However, after learning the league will conclude on the May Bank Holiday weekend, the board executive changed their opinion.

“Initially, Dublin’s stance was with the successful option as the less games there are, the better it is for us to play club games,” explained Dublin chairman Andy Kettle.

“However, we later learned the finish date is not going to change whereas the start date is [from February to March]. At that time of the year, that’s not much leeway for clubs to work with.”

Dublin weren’t represented at last Wednesday’s meeting in Thurles where six of the disaffected top-flight counties (Galway had a board meeting themselves) agreed to seek a meeting with Duffy to express concerns. Kettle said Dublin’s absence was merely due to crossed wires.

“It was down to miscommunication that we hadn’t been in Thurles. We have been in contact with the counties since and Dublin will be at any meeting of the group in the future.”

Although a number of the counties are believed to be in support of the Central Competitions Control Committee’s proposal to make Division 1 two groups of six with semi-finals, Dublin favour the outgoing structure.

“We’re very much open to discussion, particularly the reintroduction of this year’s format with eight teams and no semi-finals,” stated Kettle.

“To my mind, that should satisfy both Limerick and Wexford who would retain their Division 1 status unlike the new format.”

GAA President Christy Cooney pointed out last week it would need a two-thirds majority vote by Central Council to reverse last month’s 28 to 16 vote decision.

However, such is the level of disgruntlement among some of the counties, they are prepared to withdraw from next year’s Allianz Hurling League if it goes ahead as planned.

Meanwhile, Kettle says Dublin wing-forward Paul Flynn “looks as if he’ll be fine” for Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC final against Kerry. The Fingallians man damaged his hamstring in last month’s semi-final against Donegal but his signs of recovery are believed to be encouraging.

Kettle also revealed Dublin are “95% certain” to stage their All-Ireland post-match reception in a city centre hotel.

As they did in 2009, Kerry are hosting their dinner at the D4 hotel in Ballsbridge while the players will stay in the Burlington Hotel the night of the game.

“The ticket rush is one thing but there are a lot of organisational matters surrounding the final,” said Kettle.

“It’s a funny one to organise, weighing up what to do if you win and if you lose. Obviously, you organise for a win but stuff can’t be written in stone. There has to be a loser too.”