The format for next year's Allianz Hurling League remains unclear after no decision was made by Central Council today on a controversial proposal to include Cork and Limerick in a new eight-team Division 1A next year.

Wexford and Offaly had expressed strong opposition to this proposal, with Model County chiefs even threatening to go down the legal route if it was accepted. Counties will now examine an alternative proposal before Central Council reconvenes to vote on it.

The alternative proposal, which was put forward by National Fixtures Planning Committee member Michael Burns, is somewhat radical in that it would see a seeded system used in two six-team Division 1 sections. Kilkenny, Galway, Tipperary and Waterford would be first seeds, with Clare, Limerick, Dublin and Cork as second seeds.

Wexford, Offaly, Antrim and Laois would also play in the top flight, with each team playing five games in their section with the top two qualifying for semi-finals. The bottom teams in each group would meet in a relegation final. Each county would also play the two teams of the same grade in the opposite section

Alternative Hurling League proposal

1. Step 1:
List the top 12 hurling counties as follows, grading the top four as "A" teams, the next 4 as "B" teams, and the bottom 4 as "C" teams (Based on previous year's league results and subsequent promotion/ relegation).
Example
Counties
1
Tipperary
A
2
Kilkenny
A
3
Galway
A
4
Waterford
A
5
Clare
B
6
Cork
B
7
Limerick
B
8
Dublin
B
9
Offaly
C
10
Wexford
C
11
Antrim
C
12
Laois
C

Step 2
Put teams in 2 equal sections ( two As, two Bs and two Cs in each section). These would be drawn.
SAMPLE
National Hurling League Proposal

Section I

Section II
A
Tipperary
A
Kilkenny
A
Waterford
A
Galway
B
Clare
B
Cork
B
Dublin
B
Limerick
C
Offaly
C
Wexford
C
Laois
C
Antrim

1. Step 3
a. Each County plays each county in its own section once. (5 games)
b. Each County plays the two teams of the same grade in the opposite section (2 games)
c. Top two teams in each section enter semi finals
d. Bottom teams in each section play-off for relegation
1. Team Schedule
A team: Tipperary will play
Waterford (home), Clare (Home), Dublin (Away), Offaly (Home), Laois (Away) (5 games)
Plus Kilkenny (Home) and Galway (Away). (2 games) (Inter-Section games)
B team: Clare will play
Tipperary (Away) Waterford (Home), Dublin (Home), Laois (home) Offaly (Away), (5 games)
Plus Cork (Home) and Limerick (Away). (2 games)
C team: Laois will play
Tipperary (Home) Waterford (Away), Clare (Away), Dublin (Home), Offaly (Away), (5 games)
Plus Wexford (Home) and Antrim (Away). (2 games)
(This gives a slight advantage to 'C' teams but that would be a positive)
1. Each county gets 7 games with at least 3 home games
1. Each county plays at least 2 "A" counties each year
1. All "A" counties will play each other
1. All 10 "strong" hurling counties involved
1. Semi Final and Relegation structure simple

2015 grading will be decided by finishing position in 2014. Tweet

Most Read Stories