Special congress to examine hurling Championship structure

The GAA has announced that it will hold a special congress on October 10 at Croke Park, with one of the motions on the agenda set to examine the structure of the senior hurling Championship.

The congress has come about as a result of concerns raised over the promotion/relegation system between the Liam MacCarthy and Christy Ring Cups.

Notably, Antrim, Wexford, Clare and Offaly took a last-minute case to the GAA's Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) prior to their promotion/relegation play-off games last month.

The GAA's Central Council has put forward a new set of proposals to structure the Championship, with the special congress being held in October in a bid to have the new structure adopted in time for the 2010 Championship draws which take place the following month.

For the 2010 Championship, the motion proposes that 12 counties compete for the Liam MacCarthy Cup next year including Carlow, this year's Christy Ring Cup winners.

It also proposes that Nicky Rackard Cup champions Meath contest Tier 2 (Christy Ring Cup) and that Tyrone, the winners of the Lory Meagher Cup this year, are placed in Tier 3 (Nicky Rackard Cup).

All teams who competed in the Liam MacCarthy Cup this year will be eligible to contest that competition in 2010, but relegation will apply from next year.

This is covered by Section D of the motion but will have to be fully passed at next year's congress in Newcastle, Co Down in April.