New hurling league format on the way as five counties escape cull

Conor McShea of Fermanagh in action against Paddy Lynam, left, and Keelan Cox of Longford during the Allianz Hurling League Division 3B Final.

Next year’s Allianz Hurling League is set to be the most competitive in years as finishing positions will determine whether teams will compete in a new seven-team top flight in 2025.

A new league structure put forward by the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) was endorsed at a Central Council meeting earlier today. The proposal to remove Cavan, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Longford and Louth from 2025 was withdrawn.

Currently, 12 teams play in two Division 1 groups of six. However, the league will be based on a meritocracy from 2025. Only the top three in each top flight group next year will qualify for the new seven-team Division 1A along with the winners of a play-off between the two fourth-placed teams.

In 2025, the bottom two teams in Division 1A will be replaced by the top two in Division 1B. The top two counties will compete in the final as will be the case in the four lower divisions, which will also feature seven teams.

An attempt by Waterford to counter the proposal was heavily defeated and so four of the 11 Liam MacCarthy Cup teams will be in the second tier of the league in 13 months’ time.

While the five counties who have five clubs or less will also be part of the competition in 2025, a development committee has been established to assess how hurling can be promoted and improved in them.

Also at today’s Central Council meeting, the Gaelic Players Association again came in for heavy questioning about their finances. Meanwhile, Cork received a derogation of rule pertaining to the presentation of financial accounts. Sources indicate it came on the back of a clerical suggestion about Cork County accounts.

The 2024 masters fixtures plan and match-day regulations were approved and are expected to be released by the CCCC in the middle of next week.

As expected, the USGAA will be included in the junior football championship where they are expected to face New York for the right to compete in the weekend’s stages in Ireland in July along with Kilkenny and London.

Central Council motions for Congress in February were approved as was the establishment of a new nominations committee to over the appointment process of members to national sub-committees. Previously, that was the gift of the incoming president but he will now have support.

A number of reinstatements recommended by the Central Appeals Committee were also supported.