Cork and Limerick set for league reprieve
The Council will be “given another opportunity to discuss” the controversial existing format on Saturday week.
The 2013 league saw both Cork and Limerick relegated to what would have been the second tier of National League hurling in 2014.
However, correspondence yesterday from GAA director general Páraic Duffy to counties indicated another rethink was called for, with the top tier of hurling going from six to eight counties — i.e. adding relegated Cork and Limerick to Tipperary, Kilkenny, Galway, Waterford, Clare and Dublin.
“On the advice of CCCC, in accordance with Rule 6.37 Official Guide, an alternative proposal which would increase the total number of teams in Division 1A (eight) and 1B (six) from 12 to 14, will be put before Central Council for consideration at its meeting on 12th October,” Duffy explained.
A simple Central Council majority will be required to reverse what was agreed last December — but the proposed new format may be in place for five years if agreed.
There is expected to be broad support for a strong and vibrant Top Eight system in hurling — all the more so given what those who were to be relegated — Cork and Limerick — achieved this summer.
Under the proposed format — which arguably could increase the number of dead rubber matches — each county will play seven ordinary rounds. The top three, along with the Division 1B winner, will then contest the league semi-finals (winner of Division 1A playing winner of Division 1B), and the team that finishes eighth and last in the top flight will be automatically relegated.
The team that finishes seventh (second last) will be forced into a relegation/promotion play-off with the losers of the Division 1B final.
The proposed line-up for Division 1B is Offaly, Wexford, Antrim, Carlow, Laois and Westmeath.
Each county will play five games, with first playing fourth and second meeting third in the semis.
The winner of the Division 1B final will be automatically promoted to Division 1A and will play the top team in Division 1A in the semi-final of the competition.
Division 2A will consist of Kerry, Derry, Wicklow, Kildare, Meath and London, while Division 2B will feature Down, Mayo, Armagh, Roscommon, Fingal and Donegal. Similar formats apply for league semi-finals, promotion and relegation.
Division 3A will comprise of Louth, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Monaghan, with each team to play three league rounds. The top two teams contest the 3A final, with the winners promoted to 2B.
The bottom team will be relegated to Division 3B, which in the first instance will feature Longford, Sligo, Warwickshire and Leitrim. Again, each county will play three rounds.
Cork County Board chairman Bob Ryan was pleased with the new development and paid tribute to the role played by GAA president Liam O’Neill and director general Páraic Duffy.
“We welcome this change,” he said. “It’s a good thing, it will allow this Cork team to continue its excellent progress by getting good quality games against the top teams.
“It’s very pleasing that this change has come about.
“It’s not a surprise to hear about it because the main hurling counties would have had meetings over the past while on this subject and this proposal is, we feel, the best solution.
“It gives the top teams seven games each and those games will help them ahead of the championship.
“What I would like to put on record is how grateful we are to the uachtaráin, Liam O’Neill, and Páraic Duffy, the ard-stiúrthóir. They have taken our suggestions on board. They have brought it to Central Council now and hopefully they will vote it through.”
Limerick chairman Oliver Mann welcomed the development but last night insisted nobody should “jump to any conclusions” in advance of the Central Council meeting,
He said: “I am delighted to see there is a proposal there. But the key thing to remember is that this is just a proposal. Nothing more, nothing less. We wouldn’t be jumping to any conclusions.
“We will discuss this development at our county board meeting on Tuesday and hear what delegates have to say.
“This has been along the lines of what we have been looking for in recent months but we can’t really say any more until after that meeting next week.”
But Mann admitted it would be a huge shot in the arm for Limerick.
“Naturally it would be a boost on many levels. It would give us more high profile games which in turn means bigger attendances and that then leads to a boost in finances for ourselves and the hospitality industry in Limerick.
“It would also be a huge advantage to our hurlers, without being disrespectful to any other counties, to be playing those top teams on a regular basis.”
But he insisted: “We are not getting ahead of ourselves. This is a step in the right direction and we will see where it all goes from here.”
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