Former GAA president backs proposed new Leinster SHC structure to increase excitement

MORE EXICTEMENT: Nickey Brennan, Workgroup chair, stands for a portrait during the Leinster GAA Hurling Championship review workgroup media briefing. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Former GAA president Nickey Brennan believes the proposed new Leinster SHC structure will bring increased excitement and significantly more jeopardy if passed.

Brennan is head of the workgroup examining the current structure of the provincial championship, and its relationship with the Joe McDonagh Cup and the All-Ireland series.

Their proposal - which requires Congress approval, with a view to coming into effect in 2028 - is for an eight-team Leinster SHC, split into two groups of four.

Group A would be the more competitive, comprising the top four teams from the previous season.

Group B, meanwhile, would be made up of the fifth and sixth placed teams from the previous year, along with the two Joe McDonagh Cup finalists.

The top two teams from Group A would advance to a provincial semi-final while, in quarter-finals, the bottom two in A would play the top two from B.

The two teams that lose semi-finals would play off for an All-Ireland quarter-final place.

As for the link with the McDonagh Cup, the bottom two counties from Group B would be parachuted in at the semi-final stage of the tier two competition.

Brennan noted that, compared to the existing six-team Leinster SHC structure, which culminates in a final following a round-robin, the new model would add multiple knockout games.

"That's real jeopardy," said Brennan. "And we feel that in terms of supporters, they'll be excited about that. Because there's nothing certain, in terms of results.

"We also don't know who the pairings might be in the semi-final until we finish the quarter-finals. So there'll be a draw there. There are all sorts of possibilities here.

"We do feel this will excite patrons, the amount of knockout games. Because look, if you make it to a quarter-final and you lose it, that's your year gone. And that has the potential to be what we might call a strong county at the moment."

 In attendance are, from left, Nickey Brennan, Workgroup chair, Martin Byrne, Cathaoirleach Comhairle Laighean, Michael Reynolds, Runaí Comhairle Laighean, and William Maher, National Head of Hurling. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile.

There will be no changes to the 2027 Leinster SHC or McDonagh Cup models but finishing positions would decide where teams begin in 2028.

Asked if he envisaged any Congress opposition to the extensive proposal, which binds the Leinster SHC and McDonagh Cup competitions tightly together, Brennan shook his head.

"I would be very surprised," he said. "I'd be very surprised if Congress didn't applaud the fact that we're very much integrating Tier 2 counties and embedding them into the competition. I think that's something to be applauded. But I'm around long enough also not to make any assumptions."

Brennan noted a couple of issues which could arise in years to come, such as New York, who will compete in the 2027 Christy Ring Cup, qualifying for the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Kerry winning the McDonagh Cup would also raise a potential headache, as to which provincial championship they would potentially be promoted to.

"I'd hate what we're proposing here, all the good work that's been done, to be overshadowed by the possible involvement of New York or Kerry in the competition," said Brennan.

"But if we didn't raise it, somebody else would down the line. We just want to say that we're not coming up with all the answers now, but we're raising them as issues that will need to be addressed. And they will be addressed should that happen."

Some other details have still to be nailed down, such as the group fixtures and home/away/neutral arrangements. Home advantage, or otherwise, for quarter-finals isn't nailed down either.

But it's a comprehensive strategy that both Brennan and National Head of Hurling Willie Maher said has received widespread support from all concerned counties.

Brennan pointed to the example of Kildare who were highly competitive in this year's Leinster SHC, following consecutive promotions, but who ultimately suffered relegation.

"I know Brian Dowling is particularly delighted about this," said Brennan of the Kildare manager. "We saw their game against Galway, they were brilliant for 35 or 40 minutes. Even against Kilkenny it was the same, but they just died a death after that.

"They don't have, I suppose, the depth of panels that other counties have, or the experience, and that does show when it gets to the heat of battle. But this gives them a real opportunity now."

Maher, who previously managed Laois, described it as a 'very, very clear and simple championship' format.

"It allows for sustainable competition over time, that we don't have that yo-yoing effect of, for example, Kildare going down after a gallant effort this year," said Maher.

Brennan rejected the idea that Group A - it would be Galway, Dublin, Offaly and Kilkenny based on the 2026 standings - may hog all the limelight.

"I'd like to think they'd get decent coverage and decent respect," said Brennan of the Group B games.

"We know that some of these games may not equate to some of the big games in Munster, but I think that's a narrow focus to be looking at it just like that."