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Starting new thread on this as I think maybe deserves separate consideration from other format discussions, and is probably a more realistic proposal than a 16-team All-Ireland SHC. Relates to Neil McManus's suggestion of a two-group Leinster Championship, with eight teams.
Take the final standings from this year's table, and then consider the top two in the McDonagh Cup (Carlow & Laois) as numbers 7 and 8. Put 1, 3, 5, 7 into Group A, and 2, 4, 6, 8 into Group B, and what you'd get is this:
Group A
Dublin, Offaly, Wexford, Carlow
Group B
Galway, Kilkenny, Kildare, Laois
Winner of Group A would play runner-up of Group B in a semi-final, and vice versa. The two bottom teams would play off in a relegation final.
Consider what that would mean for the teams that would normally be the ones expected to fluctuate between this championship and the Joe McDonagh (i.e. Carlow, Kildare, Laois. And yes, I know that in the current state of affairs, Wexford are perilously close to joining that group, but we're not there yet!)
Pro: Just one of them would make the drop in any given year. The others would get at least one more year in the higher tier.
Con: Unless they unexpectedly made a semi-final, just three games per year that they'd actually want, rather than five. They wouldn't want to be in the other type of possible fourth match (i.e. the relegation final).
Would obviously have a knock-on effect on the McDonagh Cup and other lower tier competitions too, but won't drill into that at this stage.
Anyone any thoughts?
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3703 - 27/05/2026 11:09:52
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Replying To Pikeman96: "Starting new thread on this as I think maybe deserves separate consideration from other format discussions, and is probably a more realistic proposal than a 16-team All-Ireland SHC. Relates to Neil McManus's suggestion of a two-group Leinster Championship, with eight teams.
Take the final standings from this year's table, and then consider the top two in the McDonagh Cup (Carlow & Laois) as numbers 7 and 8. Put 1, 3, 5, 7 into Group A, and 2, 4, 6, 8 into Group B, and what you'd get is this:
Group A
Dublin, Offaly, Wexford, Carlow
Group B
Galway, Kilkenny, Kildare, Laois
Winner of Group A would play runner-up of Group B in a semi-final, and vice versa. The two bottom teams would play off in a relegation final.
Consider what that would mean for the teams that would normally be the ones expected to fluctuate between this championship and the Joe McDonagh (i.e. Carlow, Kildare, Laois. And yes, I know that in the current state of affairs, Wexford are perilously close to joining that group, but we're not there yet!)
Pro: Just one of them would make the drop in any given year. The others would get at least one more year in the higher tier.
Con: Unless they unexpectedly made a semi-final, just three games per year that they'd actually want, rather than five. They wouldn't want to be in the other type of possible fourth match (i.e. the relegation final).
Would obviously have a knock-on effect on the McDonagh Cup and other lower tier competitions too, but won't drill into that at this stage.
Anyone any thoughts?" Could also make it 5 in the group ? Add in Westmeath and Antrim or Kerry .... more development
Sliotar99 (Galway) - Posts: 20 - 27/05/2026 11:28:25
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Replying To Pikeman96: "Starting new thread on this as I think maybe deserves separate consideration from other format discussions, and is probably a more realistic proposal than a 16-team All-Ireland SHC. Relates to Neil McManus's suggestion of a two-group Leinster Championship, with eight teams.
Take the final standings from this year's table, and then consider the top two in the McDonagh Cup (Carlow & Laois) as numbers 7 and 8. Put 1, 3, 5, 7 into Group A, and 2, 4, 6, 8 into Group B, and what you'd get is this:
Group A
Dublin, Offaly, Wexford, Carlow
Group B
Galway, Kilkenny, Kildare, Laois
Winner of Group A would play runner-up of Group B in a semi-final, and vice versa. The two bottom teams would play off in a relegation final.
Consider what that would mean for the teams that would normally be the ones expected to fluctuate between this championship and the Joe McDonagh (i.e. Carlow, Kildare, Laois. And yes, I know that in the current state of affairs, Wexford are perilously close to joining that group, but we're not there yet!)
Pro: Just one of them would make the drop in any given year. The others would get at least one more year in the higher tier.
Con: Unless they unexpectedly made a semi-final, just three games per year that they'd actually want, rather than five. They wouldn't want to be in the other type of possible fourth match (i.e. the relegation final).
Would obviously have a knock-on effect on the McDonagh Cup and other lower tier competitions too, but won't drill into that at this stage.
Anyone any thoughts?" To be honest Id be more interested in having more hurling games in the high summer, or at least the early part of it. As it is we only have 7 more intercounty hurling games left in total, and its only coming the end of May. And factoring in the need for less yoyoing too. So 12 teams in Liam McCarthy.
Id go-
-Jan-preseason comps, as the counties will arrange challenge games anyway, may as well have supporters at them and make a few bob.
-End of Jan to 3rd week of March- League exactly as is but no finals. Top of the table wins the League. 1 break weekend after 3 rounds.
-Knockout Leinster, Munster and Ulster Championship. QFs in Leinster and Munster. 5 or 6 in Munster, depending if Kerry enter. 8 in Leinster, Dublin, Kilkenny, Offaly, Wexford, Kildare, Laois, Carlow, Westmeath. 3 or 4 in Ulster. Run in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd weekends in April. After a 2 week break following the League.
- 12 team Liam McCarthy after a 2 week gap following the League. The 11 current teams plus this years Joe Mac winners. 2 groups of 6. 5 games each spread out over 7 weekends from the start of May to 3rd week of June. Top 2 in each group into an AISF. Bottom team in each group into a relegation final. 2 week gap to AISFs, 2 week gap to the final. No relegation in the lower tiers to bring the numbers back up to existing levels in the Joe Mac downwards. Lower tier competitions will be running concurrently with the Liam McCarthy.
Benefits-
-Biggest one is way more intercounty hurling games in June. Good for the promotion of the game in all counties.
-The whole lot will fit in the existing intercounty window.
-More different counties hurling later in the year.
-More meaningful games at Provincial level and more games altogether at AI level.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19816 - 27/05/2026 11:36:54
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