Waterford consigned to hurling's second tier for 2025 league

Defeat to Wexford means the Déise will line out in Division 1B next time out.

Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald reacts during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match against Wexford at Walsh Park. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Waterford will play in the second tier Division 1B next season following their defeat to Wexford.

The result, their third straight loss, means they can’t finish any higher than fifth as Cork are ahead of them courtesy of beating them in Round 3 and the Déise will compete in the seven-team group, which equates to a second division.

Barring a monumental victory for Dublin over Westmeath or vice versa along with a Wexford victory over Cork, Pat Ryan’s team will be part of the new Division 1A. Cork could yet qualify for the semi-finals should they beat Wexford and Waterford claim victory over Kilkenny.

Wexford can make the last four if they beat Cork and it is combined with a victory for Waterford that would see Keith Rossiter’s team leapfrog Kilkenny on score difference.

Clare are through to the last four as a result of their win over The Cats and guaranteed to finish top of 1A. They will play one of Limerick, Tipperary and Galway in that game. 

In the event those three all finish on eight points in hurling’s Division 1B, the total score difference will decide which two qualify for the semi-finals. Tipperary’s total score difference is inferior to Galway and Limerick’s but they can join Limerick should the Division 1 and All-Ireland champions beat or draw with Galway and Tipperary defeat Antrim.

The GAA have confirmed score difference for all games will separate three or more teams if they finish on the same number of points. The contrast between scores for and against over the entire campaign will apply, not score difference in games between the tied counties only.

Last year, a Burgess motion that stipulated score difference between the teams finishing on the same number of points was passed at Annual Congress and was operational in the Leinster senior hurling championship and other club championships.

The last position in the new seven-team Division 1A will go to the best fourth-placed team between the current 1A and 1B, that is the team that has the highest number of points. Should they still be tied, score difference comes into play followed by highest total score for and most goals for.

Confirmed teams for 2025:

Division 1A: Clare, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary, Wexford.

Division 1B: Antrim, Carlow, Laois, Offaly, Waterford.

To be confirmed: Cork, Dublin, Westmeath.