Central Council says no to hurling league and championship change

There will be no change to the All-Ireland senior hurling championship and National Hurling League after Central Council voted to retain the status quo on Saturday.

Despite proposals by Cork for an eight-team top flight and the likes of Kilkenny for a seven-team Division 1 and seven-team Division 2, the current six-side divisional format will be retained for the foreseeable future.

Some of the traditional hurling counties privately voiced disappointment with the decision.

In a vote between the seven-team idea against the structure as it is now, the latter won out with management committee voting en block for it.

The Central Competitions Control Committee had also voiced their support for the system which has been in place for the last two seasons.

A number of delegates expected the hurling structure proposals to be discussed at the weekend and were surprised to be informed a final decision was going to be made when they were of the understanding a vote wouldn’t be taken until September’s meeting.

The concern among the top hurling counties had been the lack of opportunity afforded to managers to experiment with players in such a cut-throat Division 1A. Kilkenny, for instance, struggled this year without their Ballyhale Shamrocks players who were club-tied for the league proper.

A decision on forwarding a recommendation to Congress on restructuring the All- Ireland football championship won’t take place until November.

Speaking last week, GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail said: “My focus has been on the hurling because it is more immediate.

“I’m not kicking the football proposals down the road but we’re not really going to take a decision on them until November. I’m delighted that everybody, including the GPA, and our counties, have submitted quite substantial proposals.”