These divisions are the forgotten divisions of the hurling league. All talks of formats seem to revolve around divisions 1A and 1B. Understandable enough as well considering their profile etc. The GAA have moved to guarantee a 6th game for all 1A and 1B teams next year but have given no consideration to divisions 2A and 2B.

The divisions finished up:
2A
1. Westmeath ... Westmeath v Laois in 2A final
2. Laois
3. Kerry
4. Derry
5. Wicklow
6. Kildare ... Kildare v Wicklow in relegation final

2B
1. Meath ... Meath v London 2B final
2. London
3. Down
4. Mayo
5. Armagh
6. Roscommon

In all the GAA's effort to guarantee a 6th game for division 1 teams. No consideration is given to these 2A and 2B divisions. Kerry and Derry in 2A have no 6th game. No plan was put forward to give these counties more game time ahead of their respective championships.

Next year the 2A final winner won't even get promoted. They'll have to take on the loser of the 1B relegation final in a play-off instead.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9798 - 13/04/2013 16:46:24    1367029

the gaa want to keep the top teams at the top, they bow to the pressure of the big teams

kerryluck (Kerry) - Posts: 2517 - 13/04/2013 17:12:44    1367053

If you want to play the relegation play-off instead of us you're welcome to it...

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 13/04/2013 17:17:30    1367055

Kerry is moving up. They were in Division 3 a few years ago, then at the bottom of Divsion 2 in 2009. This year they were in a 3-way tie for first place with 8 points. How is that Laois and Westmeath were picked for the final? How is a 3-way tie sorted out?

mikeyjoe (USA) - Posts: 415 - 13/04/2013 17:22:52    1367062

doublehop
County: Kildare
If you want to play the relegation play-off instead of us you're welcome to it...

Ye're ok thanks! It's a fair enough point though to ask why not guarantee a 6th game in division 2 as well? I'd even suggest at the very least Kerry play Derry in a 2A Shield semi-final or something with the winner playing the loser of the 2A final. Counties need an extra competetive game or two ahead of their respective championships. Same could apply to 2B, 3rd v 4th with winner taking on 2B final loser in a 2B shield final. The least the GAA can do when freezing out these counties is give them games at least.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9798 - 13/04/2013 17:34:25    1367072

Would have been no more than a challenge match with nothing on the line though. And of course they're free to play as many of them as they want.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 13/04/2013 17:48:04    1367082

kerryluck
County: Kerry
the gaa want to keep the top teams at the top, they bow to the pressure of the big teams

That's rubbish. The lower division hurling counties aren't ignored because the top hurling counties want it that way, that old chestnuts been over-roasted. When did the top teams apply this 'pressure'? All hurling people would be happier if all counties were more competitive.
Its more to do with the majority of counties focusing on football, and not wanting hurling to get in the way of that.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 13/04/2013 18:05:15    1367097

Marlon_JD
County: Tipperary
Posts: 410

1367097
kerryluck
County: Kerry
the gaa want to keep the top teams at the top, they bow to the pressure of the big teams

That's rubbish. The lower division hurling counties aren't ignored because the top hurling counties want it that way, that old chestnuts been over-roasted. When did the top teams apply this 'pressure'? All hurling people would be happier if all counties were more competitive.
Its more to do with the majority of counties focusing on football, and not wanting hurling to get in the way of th

will there not be uproar if cork get relegated tomorrow, a cork selector said its unfair that cork can be relegated? how is it unfair that they could get relegated?

kerryluck (Kerry) - Posts: 2517 - 13/04/2013 18:27:01    1367104

if cork get relagated tomorrow - we will see the league changed again.....

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1691 - 13/04/2013 18:44:13    1367113

kerryluck
County: Kerry
the gaa want to keep the top teams at the top, they bow to the pressure of the big teams

will there not be uproar if cork get relegated tomorrow, a cork selector said its unfair that cork can be relegated? how is it unfair that they could get relegated?

Ask him, I don't think its unfair. Any selector of a team in that situation would probably say the same thing, I wouldn't expect them to be objective. Every county has a vote in how the league is structured.
Will there be uproar, if they're relegated? Not really. The same thing has happened to Clare, Limerick, and Dublin. Limerick have been stuck in 1b for a few years, and will be there again for another year, DESPITE finishing top of their division, how is that fair? The league hasn't been subsequently changed to suit them, has it? I don't see how any of this equates to GAA bowing to the pressure of the "big" teams to keep the top teams at the top.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 13/04/2013 18:47:15    1367117

Marlon_JD
County: Tipperary
Posts: 411

1367117
kerryluck
County: Kerry
the gaa want to keep the top teams at the top, they bow to the pressure of the big teams

will there not be uproar if cork get relegated tomorrow, a cork selector said its unfair that cork can be relegated? how is it unfair that they could get relegated?

Ask him, I don't think its unfair. Any selector of a team in that situation would probably say the same thing, I wouldn't expect them to be objective. Every county has a vote in how the league is structured.
Will there be uproar, if they're relegated? Not really. The same thing has happened to Clare, Limerick, and Dublin. Limerick have been stuck in 1b for a few years, and will be there again for another year, DESPITE finishing top of their division, how is that fair? The league hasn't been subsequently changed to suit them, has it? I don't see how any of this equates to GAA bowing to the pressure of the "big" teams to keep the top teams at the top.

are the winners of div 2a next year going to be automatic promoted next year? no they have to go into another playoff

kerryluck (Kerry) - Posts: 2517 - 13/04/2013 18:54:32    1367124

And by the way, when it comes to voting on any proposed league structures, its not just the 6 counties in 1a that have a vote, is it? If every other county was truly concerned with how the league was treating their own inter-county hurling teams, the 6 1a counties would be fairly outnumbered. Its not pressure from county boards in 1a counties that causes inequality, its apathy towards hurling from the majority of other county boards that's lead to the current structures.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 13/04/2013 18:56:28    1367126

If there were Divs One and Two, each with 10 teams, then current all 2A, 1A, 1B and two from 2B could merge for the 20 teams.

Two 10-team Divs, and you could form a league schedule of any length, if you allow my preference for a partial round robin - so the likes of Wexford and Laois could avoid the two 2B teams in the New Div Two, and Dublin and Limerick could avoid Kilk/ Tipp in the New Div One.

Instead of a full 9-game round robin, I would say make it six games with four rounds of playoffs = I know it's supposed to be a league, but play-offs are more exciting. Playoffs should be 8-team fields, with a stronger 4 getting two chances and 4 others one, following Christy Ring Cup format.

By the way, in Aussie Rules (AFL), the league moved from a 12-team 22-game schedule in the mid-80s, to today's 18-team, still 22-game schedule (only 5 of 17 opponents played twice). Also, their play-off format is what I propose for the NHL and NFL. It's quite exciting !

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3442 - 13/04/2013 21:30:42    1367206

kerryluck,I doubt that hurling people want to keep the strong counties at the top.Any hurling lover,wherever theyre from, with even an ounce of intelligence, would see that it would be beneficial for the game to see the weaker counties become stronger.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 13/04/2013 21:35:37    1367208

omahant
County: USA
Posts: 242

1367206 If there were Divs One and Two, each with 10 teams, then current all 2A, 1A, 1B and two from 2B could merge for the 20 teams.

Two 10-team Divs, and you could form a league schedule of any length, if you allow my preference for a partial round robin - so the likes of Wexford and Laois could avoid the two 2B teams in the New Div Two, and Dublin and Limerick could avoid Kilk/ Tipp in the New Div One.

Instead of a full 9-game round robin, I would say make it six games with four rounds of playoffs = I know it's supposed to be a league, but play-offs are more exciting. Playoffs should be 8-team fields, with a stronger 4 getting two chances and 4 others one, following Christy Ring Cup format.

By the way, in Aussie Rules (AFL), the league moved from a 12-team 22-game schedule in the mid-80s, to today's 18-team, still 22-game schedule (only 5 of 17 opponents played twice). Also, their play-off format is what I propose for the NHL and NFL. s quite exciting ! [/u

No chance on you posting on their forums by any chance,
Jaysus when i see your name at the top of a post i have to take two paracetamol tablets and a glass of water first before i wade through the numbers ,sorry post. :-)

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 13/04/2013 21:45:33    1367214

joncarter
County: Galway
Posts: 296

1367208
kerryluck,I doubt that hurling people want to keep the strong counties at the top.Any hurling lover,wherever theyre from, with even an ounce of intelligence, would see that it would be beneficial for the game to see the weaker counties become stronger.

what about before when there had the playoff for christy winners and they made them play 6/7 days after winner the christy ring against the a liam mccarthy side who had a lot more time to prepare for it, what about next year , what happens to the div 2a winners, where was the coverage today for the div3 final and relegation games

kerryluck (Kerry) - Posts: 2517 - 13/04/2013 21:49:01    1367215

Im not disagreeing with your complaints,Im jus saying that I don't buy into this thing that hurling people want to keep the like of Kerry,Carlow etc. down.Im a Galway man and id love to see the day when a county like Carlow contests a Leinster or all Ireland final and Im sure most hurling people are the same.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 13/04/2013 21:54:20    1367219

i can't see how not leaving the christy ring winners having a chance to go up, is going to help hurling,
can't see how reducing the number teams in the liam mccarthy is going to help hurling, that just looks after the big teams

How is this the way to improve hurling? who benefits from it?

kerryluck (Kerry) - Posts: 2517 - 13/04/2013 21:58:41    1367221

joncarter
County: Galway
Posts: 298

1367208
kerryluck,I doubt that hurling people want to keep the strong counties at the top.Any hurling lover,wherever theyre from, with even an ounce of intelligence, would see that it would be beneficial for the game to see the weaker counties become stronger.

Actually I think hurling people are much more concerned about the stronger teams becoming weaker. While everyone wants the weaker counties like Kerry to thrive they're more concerned with protecting the likes of Offaly and Wexford among others.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 14/04/2013 10:31:16    1367247

Well, if they are concerned about strong teams dropping their standards a bit, it does not excuse not providing sufficient competetive games for 2A and 2B teams.

With the Christy Ring finishing early every summer, I'd like to see some hurling shield or something competed by the counties not getting past qualifier phase I and the 4 Christy Ring semi-finalists.

I know it's a busy time where club action is about to begin but their should be some intermediary competition between McCarthy and Ring in the summer to give a few competitive games. Last year the counties in that bracket were Westmeath, Laois, Antrim, Carlow, Down, London, Wicklow and Meath. If the McCarthy teams falling into it turn their noses up at it fair enough.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9798 - 14/04/2013 11:23:01    1367264