Eight-team top flight a concern for Lanigan

Hurling Development Committee (HDC) chairman Tommy Lanigan has raised doubts about a return to an eight-team top flight in the National League.

The James Stephens’ man and his group will shortly present a proposal for the 2014 league and Championship to the GAA’s Central Council for consideration.

Although gate receipts for the hurling league were believed to be up this year, the sport’s top counties are keen to see a return to the eight-team Division 1 structure replaced this season by a six-team format. While the 2011 model is one of the proposals being discussed by the HDC, Lanigan is sceptical about its feasibility.

“Some of the most enjoyable hurling I saw in the NHL was in October and November but I don’t think we’ll be going back to a league format over two calendar years,” he said.

“There was huge merit in it but a lot has changed in recent times with training methods and preparations. It is also difficult to see how an eight-team Division 1 would work in the fixtures Personally, I think it’s an awful lot of games and we do have to look carefully at the impact it has on our clubs. I’m not suggesting for a second that we have a master-plan for hurling but we’re focusing on the league and Championship for 2014 and it’s all about striking a balance.”

Regarding the Championship, Lanigan is concerned about the amount of training teams are doing for a small amount of games.

“A lot of counties have two meaningful Championship games and that’s it. It’s a huge issue, this ratio between training and meaningful games. Taking four or five weeks and putting in 20 sessions in that time for one match isn’t necessarily the best thing, in my personal view.

“It’s something we’re looking at but it’s a complex area and any change that will be proposed have to take full account of the importance of the provincial championships. It could be argued very strongly the Munster hurling championship is the second biggest competition in the GAA and it’s a flagship championship.”

While most attention will be given to the impact any Championship structure will have on hurling’s elite, Lanigan is acutely aware of the teams either languishing in the Liam MacCarthy Cup or proving too good for the Christy Ring Cup.

“There are unacceptable gaps growing between tiers. At the moment, we have four tiers in hurling and we don’t want eight. We want a situation where the likes of Westmeath, Antrim, Laois, Kerry, Carlow and Down, where there is a huge amount of good work being done, can prosper. There must be more opportunity for them to play meaningful games with the prospect of them ~winning a provincial championship or making it through the qualifiers.”

Meanwhile, former Clare captain Pat Vaughan and Diarmuid McMahon have been dropped from the panel.