Galway Hurling Review seeks to revamp club championship structure

A REVAMP of the county championship structures was the main recommendation to emerge from the Galway Hurling Review unveiled at theClayton Hotel in Ballybrit yesterday.

It is proposed the 20 existing senior teams play an open draw first-round game, the ten losers to meet in the second round, again in an open-draw. This leaves five losers who then go into a relegation group playing four games each with the bottom team relegated.

The 15 winners are joined by the intermediate champions and are split into four groups of four, with the top two in each group qualifying for the championship quarter-finals, the bottom two taking part in a new competition, the Shield.

Review committee chairman Joe McDonagh said that the strategy would end meaningless group games which currently exist.

“We have had two championships in Galway, what I call the ‘cosy’ championship pre-summer, then it’s all ratcheted up in September.

“Last year Clarinbridge lost their first two games in the championship, drew their third, and still won the county, and the All-Ireland.”

Of even greater significance is the proposed playing calendar, which would see teams in Galway playing right across the summer, a situation that would be facilitated by the adoption of a new bye-law, the six-day rule, whereby with the exception of the Leinster final/All-Ireland quarter-final, semi-final and final, all players would be eligible to play for their clubs up to six days before any inter-county game.

In a comprehensive and wide-ranging review, done in full consultation with the clubs, there are 79 recommendations in total.

Unlike many another report that has since just gathered dust on a shelf somewhere, this one, said county hurling board chairman Joe Byrne, will be acted on.

“Most of the recommendations are just common sense. There has to be a proactive approach by the Hurling Board now in implementation.

“It’s all about getting the relevant expertise in the different areas, get them to come together, do their work, report back to us.

“There’s no other way of doing it. But we’re very enthusiastic about implementing it.”