National Forum

6 Teams Left In A Hurling May 24Th

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Football has the All Ireland 16 and a Tailteann 16. Division 1 and 2 counties completing strongly in the All Ireland. Division 3 and 4 counties competing strongly in the Tailteann.

Hurling has 11 in Tier 1. 1A and 1B counties competing. The Joe Mac should be something of a mirror or Tier 1. 2 group of 5. 2nd v 3rd in quarter finals, winners taking on group winners in the semi finals. Final as curtain raiser to an All Ireland semi final.

Sure there will be some tough games for some. Kildare put in a massive effort going into Leinster. Anyone coming up from the Ring would similarly have to put in a big effort going into a Joe Mac of 10. Sin é. Low probability of football county boards pushing for that change however."
The lower tiers are accurately formatted. There gap in standards between the tiers is very real. Pretty much every team promoted between the tiers tend to struggle the following season. Thats a good indicator that they are correctly balanced. It also allows 4 other teams win All Irelands in their own right. I know lads here in Roscommon with Rackard medals. They value them and are respected within the hurling and gaa community ( real gaa community) for their achievements and representation. Obviously its not football level respect but respect is respect and earned.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 739 - 12/07/2026 15:22:01    2685401

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "The lower tiers are accurately formatted. There gap in standards between the tiers is very real. Pretty much every team promoted between the tiers tend to struggle the following season. Thats a good indicator that they are correctly balanced. It also allows 4 other teams win All Irelands in their own right. I know lads here in Roscommon with Rackard medals. They value them and are respected within the hurling and gaa community ( real gaa community) for their achievements and representation. Obviously its not football level respect but respect is respect and earned."
All Ireland hurling has 2 provincial groups that feed into quarter finals and semi finals. That's all well and good.
Reducing lower tier championships to 6 teams is not championship. The lower tiers should at least revert to 3 tiers of 8 - where there would actually be semi finals to make the finals.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9988 - 13/07/2026 04:10:22    2685518

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Replying To legendzxix:  "All Ireland hurling has 2 provincial groups that feed into quarter finals and semi finals. That's all well and good.
Reducing lower tier championships to 6 teams is not championship. The lower tiers should at least revert to 3 tiers of 8 - where there would actually be semi finals to make the finals."
Says you and only you. I dont hear hurling people from the counties in the tiered championships complaining. They know the difference in standard between the tiers.
There are only 6 teams in the Offaly Senior B hurling championship. Its very competitive. In fact most of the counties in the tiered championships have 8 or less teams in their senior club championship. In Roscommon its 7, Mayo its 4 Afaik, Carlow 5 I think, even in kerry its only 9. All are keenly contested. Its not the amount of teams that make a championship. Its the competition to win that makes it. I remember being told this in Roscommon years ago." Just because there are only 7 teams dont think this is easy to win. It isnt" That was 20 years ago and the local club still havent won it.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 739 - 13/07/2026 20:23:48    2685656

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Replying To legendzxix:  "All Ireland hurling has 2 provincial groups that feed into quarter finals and semi finals. That's all well and good.
Reducing lower tier championships to 6 teams is not championship. The lower tiers should at least revert to 3 tiers of 8 - where there would actually be semi finals to make the finals."
6 ok with 1 semi, I suppose.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3488 - 14/07/2026 00:56:36    2685692

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Replying To omahant:  "6 ok with 1 semi, I suppose."
It is half ok! With the lower tiers championships long established, I'd just be of the humble opinion that they'd want 8 teams with at least 2 semi finals - however that would be agreed upon.
As the lower tier championships are out of the limelight - the current groups of 6 could nearly get away with the top 4 going into semi finals anyway, with the top 2 at home. The provincial championships would come under the microscope for something like that but as with the 2A winner (Fermanagh) hosting New York in a preliminary quarter final, the lower tier championships are less under the microscope for quirks like that.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9988 - 14/07/2026 14:57:22    2685735

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With 4 of 6, maybe IPL format is better - i.e. 1v2, loser to SF & 3v4 QF, winner to SF.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3488 - 16/07/2026 15:51:34    2685953

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Replying To omahant:  "With 4 of 6, maybe IPL format is better - i.e. 1v2, loser to SF & 3v4 QF, winner to SF."
The Joe Mac will have a 2nd v 3rd semi final next year. I suppose if it is deemed somewhat successful, it might extend to the other tiers as well - though that might require the lower tier triple header being on the same day as the Munster hurling final.
Usually the top 2 from a group of 4 progress to knockouts. The top 3 in Munster and Leinster have always progressed to knockout. If that's the only change lower tier counties might want - so be it. Probably long overdue.
The top 3 and New York entering semi finals might pose a conundrum. Would the group winner play 3rd or New York? It's currently bizarre that New York parachute in for a semi final and it's put in a neutral venue. The side finishing 2nd after 5 games should at least get home game.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9988 - 16/07/2026 16:41:39    2685960

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The Joe Mac will have a 2nd v 3rd semi final next year. I suppose if it is deemed somewhat successful, it might extend to the other tiers as well - though that might require the lower tier triple header being on the same day as the Munster hurling final.
Usually the top 2 from a group of 4 progress to knockouts. The top 3 in Munster and Leinster have always progressed to knockout. If that's the only change lower tier counties might want - so be it. Probably long overdue.
The top 3 and New York entering semi finals might pose a conundrum. Would the group winner play 3rd or New York? It's currently bizarre that New York parachute in for a semi final and it's put in a neutral venue. The side finishing 2nd after 5 games should at least get home game."
Why would the lower tier SFs have to be the same weekend as the Munster final? The end date for intercounty action is the end of July.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20287 - 16/07/2026 17:23:26    2685969

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Replying To Viking66:  "Why would the lower tier SFs have to be the same weekend as the Munster final? The end date for intercounty action is the end of July."
The 3 lower tier finals are currently the week before the provincial finals. If they were extended a week to allow a 2nd v 3rd semi final, that would have the finals a week later - Ring, Rackard and Meagher as a triple header on the same day as the Munster final. As discussed already, the lower tier hurling seasons aren't going to be extended any longer than necessary.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9988 - 17/07/2026 05:48:52    2686001

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The 3 lower tier finals are currently the week before the provincial finals. If they were extended a week to allow a 2nd v 3rd semi final, that would have the finals a week later - Ring, Rackard and Meagher as a triple header on the same day as the Munster final. As discussed already, the lower tier hurling seasons aren't going to be extended any longer than necessary."
Why shouldn't they be? The lower tier football final was only last weekend.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20287 - 17/07/2026 10:50:47    2686024

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The 3 lower tier finals are currently the week before the provincial finals. If they were extended a week to allow a 2nd v 3rd semi final, that would have the finals a week later - Ring, Rackard and Meagher as a triple header on the same day as the Munster final. As discussed already, the lower tier hurling seasons aren't going to be extended any longer than necessary."
If you are extending them you have to go to the week after the provincial finals minimum. There is too much competition on the provincial final weekend. The weekend after is currently free and would have a potential preliminary quarter finals if any tweak happens to system.
The reasons why it doesnt go on until mid July has been well covered at this stage.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 739 - 17/07/2026 10:51:06    2686025

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "If you are extending them you have to go to the week after the provincial finals minimum. There is too much competition on the provincial final weekend. The weekend after is currently free and would have a potential preliminary quarter finals if any tweak happens to system.
The reasons why it doesnt go on until mid July has been well covered at this stage."
Not sure the Munster final and a triple header of lower tier finals would be competing against each other. Croke Park should be free of the Saturday or Sunday not in use for the Joe Mac and Leinster final.
The Tailteann quarter finals and semi finals have momentum going into the final. The Joe Mac hasn't got that. The Joe Mac finalists were getting to host the preliminary quarter final. I agree with chopping that. The top 2 in the Joe Mac hosting semi finals instead should be the target. Maybe it will happen by default. The Joe Mac is already going to have a 2nd v 3rd semi final in 2027. It seems inevitable that New York are going to get into the Joe Mac, potentially meaning 4 semi finalists depending on how New York are accommodated for in the Joe Mac.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9988 - 17/07/2026 11:55:31    2686038

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Not sure the Munster final and a triple header of lower tier finals would be competing against each other. Croke Park should be free of the Saturday or Sunday not in use for the Joe Mac and Leinster final.
The Tailteann quarter finals and semi finals have momentum going into the final. The Joe Mac hasn't got that. The Joe Mac finalists were getting to host the preliminary quarter final. I agree with chopping that. The top 2 in the Joe Mac hosting semi finals instead should be the target. Maybe it will happen by default. The Joe Mac is already going to have a 2nd v 3rd semi final in 2027. It seems inevitable that New York are going to get into the Joe Mac, potentially meaning 4 semi finalists depending on how New York are accommodated for in the Joe Mac."
For tv exposure. The reward for lower tier All irelands are winning an all ireland, winning it in CP, winning it in CP on TV and promotion. They get reasonable exposure atm on tv. It wouldnt be there on provincial finsl weekend. Im not sure CP would even be available to the same extent anyway. You cant play 4 matches in the one day. Thats ridiculous.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 739 - 18/07/2026 17:04:02    2686177

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "For tv exposure. The reward for lower tier All irelands are winning an all ireland, winning it in CP, winning it in CP on TV and promotion. They get reasonable exposure atm on tv. It wouldnt be there on provincial finsl weekend. Im not sure CP would even be available to the same extent anyway. You cant play 4 matches in the one day. Thats ridiculous."
Wouldn't be so sure about the tv exposure you're talking up. The Munster final threw in at 2pm this year. The Christy Ring final could have thrown in at 4pm on the same day, preceded by the Meagher with the Rackard before that. I doubt the Meagher and Munster final would be battling it out for many hopping between RTE and TG4 YouTube.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9988 - 18/07/2026 18:32:58    2686187

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Off Monday to Wednesday for next week's. Big pours in Limerick and Dingle to celebrate my winnings.

hlynch12 (Limerick) - Posts: 238 - 18/07/2026 19:01:06    2686192

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I'm not suggesting the following is a silver bullet. A competitive Leinster championship might need 2 tiered groups of 4.

Tier 1
Galway
Dublin
Offaly
Kilkenny

Tier 2
Wexford
Laois
Kildare
Carlow

Using the above placings for example purposes...

Leinster semi final: Wexford home to Dublin.
Leinster final: Galway v Dublin.

Leinster playoff quarter final: Laois home to Kilkenny
Leinster playoff semi final: Offaly home to Kilkenny
Leinster playoff final: Wexford home to Offaly. Playoff final winner advances to All Ireland quarter final.

Notes:
• Tier 1 group winner straight to Leinster final.
• Tier 2 group winner guaranteed a place in the following year's tier 1 group and get to host the tier 1 group runner-up in a semi final.
• Tier 1 group runner-up also guaranteed a place in the following year's tier 1 group.
• 3rd in the tier 1 group go direct to hosting a playoff semi final.
• I don't think 4th in tier 1 can be eliminated from the All Ireland while 2nd in tier 2 remains. For this reason the tier 2 group runner-up could host 4th from tier 1 in a playoff quarter final.
• The playoff semi final winner would secure the final place in the following year's tier 1 group. Tier 1 - 3rd, Tier 1 - 4th and Tier 2 - 2nd playing off for that final Tier 1 spot.
• The Leinster semi final loser should host the playoff final. The playoff final winner advancing to the All Ireland quarter finals. That's the Leinster semi final loser, Tier 1 - 3rd, Tier 1 - 4th and Tier 2 - 2nd playing off for that All Ireland quarter final spot.

• 3rd in Tier 2 group retains their place in the Leinster championship.
• 4th in Tier 2 group relegated.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9988 - 20/07/2026 09:53:45    2686336

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