Duffy declares new hurling format a hit

GAA director general Páraic Duffy has described the new Allianz Hurling League divisions 1A and 1B format as a success.

The system, which sees Clare and Limerick duel in a Division 1B final on Saturday for promotion to Division 1A next year as well as a Division 1 semi-final against Kilkenny, was introduced as a compromise solution last October.

The eight counties in last year’s Division 1 and promoted Limerick had initially protested the proposal by the Hurling Development Committee (HDC) to fashion a six-team divisional system.

The HDC recommendation would have seen the top two teams in Divisions 1A and 1B play out straight finals with the bottom two in each group battling it out in relegation play-offs.

However, an amendment ensured the top two teams in Division 1B were given a chance to reach the league semi-finals.

Despite some criticism that it does little for the promotion of hurling, doesn’t give counties enough games and cuts the room for experimentation, Duffy believes the format has had a positive effect.

“I actually think it worked very well,” he said. “The big challenge there was trying to find 12 teams competitive games and I think it has done that when other years it was two [group of] eights.

“As a personal opinion, I would think it has worked very well and it has been competitive right to the end. The relegation play-offs, semi-finals and finals will be good, so everything has worked quite well.”

Duffy noted Longford’s failure to field a team against Fermanagh in last weekend’s Division 3B clash as unfortunate. The Longford County Board decided on Tuesday night to go ahead with competing in this year’s Lory Meagher Cup.

“It’s disappointing when a team doesn’t fulfil a fixture,” said Duffy.

“We are working very hard on that level of hurling through the Tain League and all of that and it’s certainly a priority for [GAA president-elect] Liam O’Neill coming in.

“But it is disappointing when a game doesn’t take place because a team can’t field a team.”

Meanwhile, Duffy revealed the plan to rid the All-Ireland senior football championship of the six-day turnaround for provincial runners-up could come into operation next season. In a move Duffy clearly supports, no team will have to play within one week of losing any provincial game while they won’t be expected to wait more than four weeks.

Instead of qualifier draws during the championship, one defining one would be held before the championship to give teams, county boards and clubs guidance on how to plan for the summer. It had been reported the recommendation could come in for 2014, but Duffy said it could be rolled out as early as next season.

“There’s a motion to Congress via Ard Chomhairle from the National Fixtures Planning Committee which will hopefully address that problem for 2013.

“If it passed at Congress this year it wouldn’t take effect until 2013 and address that issue once and for all,” he added.