O’Mahony: Limerick finally get a lucky break

Limerick’s Gavin O’Mahony has welcomed the new league proposals as the “lucky break” the county might finally catch should they be backed at Saturday’s Central Council meeting.

Under the new format, Limerick, along with Cork, would return to the top flight but in an extended eight-team Division 1A.

While Cork were relegated earlier this year, Limerick found themselves in Division 1B following a restructuring, having earned promotion to Division 1 in 2011.

O’Mahony feels for Offaly and Wexford, who stand to lose out most by the remodelling, but is keeping his fingers crossed it will be backed in Croke Park in two days’ time.

“We’ve made it very public that we wanted to be back among the top teams. We feel it’s only right that we’re there and I’d say even the other teams are grateful the top division is being extended because it was extremely competitive last year. We’re hoping that we’ll catch a lucky break.”

Frustration is the word that comes to O’Mahony’s mind in recalling their two seasons in Division 1B in which they finished top of the table on both occasions only to lose the finals. He would be happy to see the back of Division 1B but appreciates the anger in Offaly and Wexford that they aren’t being elevated into Division 1A.

“It won’t do them any favours. You were guaranteed good games against them and Dublin. It was the travel more than anything that was far from ideal. Us travelling to Antrim and them travelling to us was difficult because it could take a day or two to recover and then that takes from the following week’s training.

“Offaly and Wexford will use this as motivation and one of them is bound to be up there next year if the vote passes. I’d like to see the two of them up there but then there is Antrim too.

“The more teams in the top division the better because you can then schedule your training and target matches and possibly train harder before other ones. Last year was so competitive in Division 1A you had to go full tilt in every game and there wasn’t much training done between games. You have to be able to keep something in the tank.”

Clare chairman Michael McDonagh is certain the GAA’s Management Committee would have proposed a change to the National Hurling League regardless of who was relegated to Division 1B this year.

Clare beat Cork last April to avoid the drop from the top flight and Clare, having met to discuss the recommendation last night, are set to back the new eight-team Division 1A proposal.

Manager Davy Fitzgerald has long called for a larger top division and McDonagh disputes the theory the changes have been put forward on foot of Cork being demoted.

“I’m sure it was always the intention to change the structure,” he said. “A bigger league is the one thing a lot of counties have looked for and I’d be fairly confident it would have been proposed whatever happened back in the league.

“I wouldn’t say any team is too big to go down. I think it actually does a team well to be down there for a year or two but a bigger league will have teams better prepared for the Championship. The more games you have at home, the better and the more games you have, the more chance of unearthing talent and knowing what you have.”

McDonagh doesn’t believe Croke Park have made a u-turn on the format of the league but listened to expressions of concern from counties.

“That wish, to make the league bigger, was always there. I don’t think there was a change of heart. It’ll make hurling a lot better. Seven or eight teams have always been at the top and the fact they’re going to be playing each other will add to the league.”