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Replying To legendzxix: "Just to say, I agree with this. In your example where Kerry happen to win the Joe Mac - the Joe Mac should reduce to 5 for a year, while Munster increases to 6. The Leinster championship should always remain at 8. The relegation final loser granted a relegation reprieve when a Munster county wins the Joe Mac.
The main reason this format might not find favour with the powers that be is that the 4 power houses being in opposite groups means they are not playing each other as often as they might like. It's got to be a big influence behind the Nickey Brennan proposal where the top 4 are in the same group." My proposed group structure is based loosely on how we do seedings for the group draws of our own club championships in Wexford, albeit we have six per group rather than four.
But basically, for the Leinster SHC this way, it would be:
Pot 1: The two finalists of the previous year
Pot 2: The two beaten semi-finalists of the previous year
Pot 3: The two beaten quarter-finalists of the previous year
Pot 4: The other two
One from Pot 1 is drawn randomly into Group A, then one from Pot 2, etc.,
You're right that the finalists of one year can't meet in the group stage the following year, but it's far from unusual in sports for the top two seeds to be on opposite sides of the draw anyway.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4156 - 14/10/2026 21:33:01
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@legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10099 - 14/10/2026 16:30:18
Would a few tweaks improve the actual Proposal?
✓ Retain tiers A,B,C
✓ Group A) 5 teams; B) 3 teams; C) 5 teams
✓ All play 4-game round robins (B twice)
✓ Lein SFs (neutral venue, double header):
1v QF winner (6 hosts 4);
2v3
✓ McD SFs: 7 hosts 10; 9 hosts 8
✓ McD Relegation Final: 12v13 (neutral venue)
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3609 - 15/10/2026 01:50:57
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@Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4142 - 14/10/2026 21:33:01
But with Leinster's lack of depth, perhaps it's best avoiding "usual" groups. Rugby League World Cup has also loaded Group A fir the same reason.
The actual Proposal has the 'top 4' playing each other (all 3 others); yours has them playing 1; and mine all 3 as well.
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3609 - 15/10/2026 13:11:22
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Replying To Pikeman96: "My proposed group structure is based loosely on how we do seedings for the group draws of our own club championships in Wexford, albeit we have six per group rather than four.
But basically, for the Leinster SHC this way, it would be:
Pot 1: The two finalists of the previous year
Pot 2: The two beaten semi-finalists of the previous year
Pot 3: The two beaten quarter-finalists of the previous year
Pot 4: The other two
One from Pot 1 is drawn randomly into Group A, then one from Pot 2, etc.,
You're right that the finalists of one year can't meet in the group stage the following year, but it's far from unusual in sports for the top two seeds to be on opposite sides of the draw anyway." If you look back to the previous league format - they kept the same groups for 2 years, reversing the home and away fixtures. Something like that would help for fair home and away game allocation across 2 years.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10103 - 15/10/2026 14:02:56
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Replying To omahant: "@Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4142 - 14/10/2026 21:33:01
But with Leinster's lack of depth, perhaps it's best avoiding "usual" groups. Rugby League World Cup has also loaded Group A fir the same reason.
The actual Proposal has the 'top 4' playing each other (all 3 others); yours has them playing 1; and mine all 3 as well." But going back to basics, and the notion (whether you agree with it or not) that second-tier counties need to regularly play first-tier ones in order to raise their standards:
- The proposal on the table doesn't allow for that. Each year, just one of the sides who've been up and down from the McDonagh Cup to date will get a crack against a top four side at all, and they might never get a crack against one of the top two.
- My proposal does allow for it. Also gives them appropriate other chances to avoid bottom spot and relegation danger.
- Yours may allow for it too. But I still prefer mine to yours. :)
By the way, not sure what your point is re. the Rugby World Cup. Australia were in Pot 2 (7th in the rankings). They had to be drawn against one of the top six. It just happened to be New Zealand. Could have been any of the others instead.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4156 - 15/10/2026 15:52:10
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Replying To Pikeman96: "But going back to basics, and the notion (whether you agree with it or not) that second-tier counties need to regularly play first-tier ones in order to raise their standards:
- The proposal on the table doesn't allow for that. Each year, just one of the sides who've been up and down from the McDonagh Cup to date will get a crack against a top four side at all, and they might never get a crack against one of the top two.
- My proposal does allow for it. Also gives them appropriate other chances to avoid bottom spot and relegation danger.
- Yours may allow for it too. But I still prefer mine to yours. :)
By the way, not sure what your point is re. the Rugby World Cup. Australia were in Pot 2 (7th in the rankings). They had to be drawn against one of the top six. It just happened to be New Zealand. Could have been any of the others instead." He was talking about the Rugby League World Cup. There are plenty of Rugby people never heard of it either ;-)
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20874 - 15/10/2026 17:15:36
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Replying To omahant: "@Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4142 - 14/10/2026 21:33:01
But with Leinster's lack of depth, perhaps it's best avoiding "usual" groups. Rugby League World Cup has also loaded Group A fir the same reason.
The actual Proposal has the 'top 4' playing each other (all 3 others); yours has them playing 1; and mine all 3 as well." Except, no 3v4.
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3609 - 15/10/2026 22:39:59
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Replying To Viking66: "He was talking about the Rugby League World Cup. There are plenty of Rugby people never heard of it either ;-)" This sent me scrambling for the finer details -
WCRL 2008
"Super" Group A - 4 teams, 3 to SFs (4th out)
Group B - 3 teams, 1 to SF Playoff (QF)
Group C - 3 teams, 1 to SF Playoff (QF)
______
Actually, WCRL 2026 is Oct 15 (today) to Nov 15
Group A - 4 team round robin, top 2 to SFs (3rd & 4th out)
Group B (3 teams) v Group C (3 teams), top 2 of 6 to SFs
For Lein SHC, maybe a version of WCRL 2026?
Add one team to each group above (13 total)
Super A = 5 team round robin (4 games, 2 home/2 away)
BvC = 4v4 teams (4 games, 2 home/2 away)
QFs = A3 v BC2 (QF1); A4 v BC1 (QF2)
SFs = A1 v QF2 winner; A2 v QF1 winner
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3609 - 15/10/2026 23:44:58
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Replying To Viking66: "He was talking about the Rugby League World Cup. There are plenty of Rugby people never heard of it either ;-)" Ah. I missed the word "League" from his post and so was puzzled by it.
Won't claim to know much (or even anything at all) about Rugby League, but have just looked up the structure of that tournament.
All I'll say is it's like something he'd come up with all right. :D
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4156 - 16/10/2026 00:26:06
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Replying To Pikeman96: "Ah. I missed the word "League" from his post and so was puzzled by it.
Won't claim to know much (or even anything at all) about Rugby League, but have just looked up the structure of that tournament.
All I'll say is it's like something he'd come up with all right. :D" :-D
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20874 - 16/10/2026 10:17:08
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Replying To Pikeman96: "Ah. I missed the word "League" from his post and so was puzzled by it.
Won't claim to know much (or even anything at all) about Rugby League, but have just looked up the structure of that tournament.
All I'll say is it's like something he'd come up with all right. :D" Personally, I love Rugby "Union" but find "League" sore on the eyes - e.g. latter run into wall, wrestled down, reset and repeat several dozen times per match - naah.
"Union" so much better with 'release of ball' compared to 70s-style pile ups.
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3609 - 16/10/2026 14:38:27
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Would the actual "Lein SHC Proposal" be better with:
QFs: A3 v A4 (QF1, if A3/A4 <2 pts diff, if >1, A3 to SFs); and B1 v B2 (QF2)
SFs: A1 v QF2 winner; and A2 v QF1 winner
QF2 winner replaces QF1 loser in Group A, the next year (so, jeopardy for A3 in QF1).
In extreme case, A3 could advance to QF1 with 1 pt.
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3609 - 16/10/2026 15:26:38
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OR (still with ranked A,B,C):
LMcC KO: All Group A&B teams >2 pts (+ rare 2nd=2 pts)
Variable KO team quantity (4 to 8), with QF byes (4 to 0)
Byes to 'higher in A' (before B); QFs & SFs 'high v low'
JMcD KO: All Group B teams <3 pts & C teams >2 pts
Variable KO teams (2 to 6), with variable KO rds (1-3)
Byes to 'higher in B' (before C); QFs & SFs 'high v low'
Point Breakdown Examples:
6,4,2,0 (2 advance)
5,4,2,1 (2)
4,4,2,2 (2)
6,*2,2,2 (2 to KO, incl *rare 2nd)
4,4,3,1 (3)
4,4,4,0 (3)
3,3,3,3 (all to KO)
Critique please!
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3609 - 16/10/2026 18:50:13
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Back to discussing the proposal that's actually on the table, rather than anybody coming up with suggested alternatives -
Something I just heard today and that hadn't occurred to me before is that since there'd be just three group games for each team, the idea is there'd be one home, one away, and one at a neutral venue.
I think that will further dilute things. Many seem in agreement that Group A would really be just a series of glorified challenge matches, to see if you go to a semi-final or a quarter-final where you'd generally be favourites anyway. So take Galway v Dublin, for example - whatever about getting a crowd into Pearse Stadium or Parnell Park for it, what sort of numbers would realistically travel to somewhere like Portlaoise or Tullamore to see it?
Or in Group B, you could end up with a fixture like Carlow v Antrim, to be played in Mullingar. Again, I couldn't see it being packed to the rafters.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4156 - 22/10/2026 16:01:34
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Replying To Pikeman96: "Back to discussing the proposal that's actually on the table, rather than anybody coming up with suggested alternatives -
Something I just heard today and that hadn't occurred to me before is that since there'd be just three group games for each team, the idea is there'd be one home, one away, and one at a neutral venue.
I think that will further dilute things. Many seem in agreement that Group A would really be just a series of glorified challenge matches, to see if you go to a semi-final or a quarter-final where you'd generally be favourites anyway. So take Galway v Dublin, for example - whatever about getting a crowd into Pearse Stadium or Parnell Park for it, what sort of numbers would realistically travel to somewhere like Portlaoise or Tullamore to see it?
Or in Group B, you could end up with a fixture like Carlow v Antrim, to be played in Mullingar. Again, I couldn't see it being packed to the rafters." Sorry I thought Id posted about the 1 home game for everyone already. There is also some vague talk about the weaker counties in the QFs being at home, but nothing concrete on that yet.
I really hope Wexford votes against the proposed changes, and everyone else does as well.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20874 - 22/10/2026 18:15:04
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Replying To Pikeman96: "Back to discussing the proposal that's actually on the table, rather than anybody coming up with suggested alternatives -
Something I just heard today and that hadn't occurred to me before is that since there'd be just three group games for each team, the idea is there'd be one home, one away, and one at a neutral venue.
I think that will further dilute things. Many seem in agreement that Group A would really be just a series of glorified challenge matches, to see if you go to a semi-final or a quarter-final where you'd generally be favourites anyway. So take Galway v Dublin, for example - whatever about getting a crowd into Pearse Stadium or Parnell Park for it, what sort of numbers would realistically travel to somewhere like Portlaoise or Tullamore to see it?
Or in Group B, you could end up with a fixture like Carlow v Antrim, to be played in Mullingar. Again, I couldn't see it being packed to the rafters." I agree, our first and most important home championship game this year was the game against Dublin and we couldn't even get to half capacity at Wexford Park!
These glorified challenge matches will probably bring attendances at Wexford Park down to around 3-4K max which is an insult to the Leinster Championship
Goreylad1985 (Wexford) - Posts: 74 - 22/10/2026 22:22:44
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Replying To Viking66: "Sorry I thought Id posted about the 1 home game for everyone already. There is also some vague talk about the weaker counties in the QFs being at home, but nothing concrete on that yet.
I really hope Wexford votes against the proposed changes, and everyone else does as well." Maybe you had, and I either overlooked it or else wrongly took it to mean possibly only one home match in any given year, since there'd only be three group games anyway. Either way, I don't recall mention of neutral venues. But maybe I'm just getting old and forgetful.
I hope it's shot down too, but as I've said before, word on the grapevine is that other counties are in favour of it, and particularly the mid-tier counties who it will supposedly "benefit".
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4156 - 23/10/2026 11:04:24
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Every team could get 2 home/ 2 away, with:
Seeds 1,2,7,8 playing Seeds 3,4,5,6
Top 4 of 8 to KO SFs (or 5, with 1 QF)
Although quirky - fair and simple enough to understand.
Relegation SF 6v7; loser v 8 in Final.
Enough jeopardy and chance for improvement.
Could be used in AIC instead, after Prov KO.
Why not do it?
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3609 - 23/10/2026 12:38:41
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