Liam McCarthy 10 teams - Kilkenny Galway Dublin Offaly Wexford Cork Tipp Lim Clare and Waterford Same format as present but also relegation of one team

New Tier Cup - 6 Teams - Antrim Laois Carlow WM London and Kerry: 2 groups of three, top from each group go to semis along with best runner up and Christy ring winners, winners gain place in last round qualifiers in Laim McCarthy, and also gain a place in province of relegated team in following years Liam Mc Cup, last placed teams go into relegation play off.

CRC - 6 Teams - Down Wicklow Derry Meath Armagh Kildare: 2 groups of three top two from each group go to semis, cup winners go to semis of new tier cup bottom two relegation play off.

NRC - 6 teams Mayo Rossies Sligo Louth Tyrone Donegal: 2 groups 3 again with top two going to semi finals.

LMC - 6 Teams Ferm, Longf, Leitrim, Cavan, Warw, Monaghan same as NRC

This format may seem silly to some people but the way i see it, by linking the top 3 tiers in the slimest of fashions i have given 22 counties the opportunity to play Laim McCarthy at the start of the year, when was the last time 22 counties had the chance to play Laim McCarthy hurling in the same year.

This format also includes competitiveness all year maybe bar one game and who knows on the day.

Thoughts?

North Side Gael (None) - Posts: 1076 - 13/06/2012 13:30:49    1193442

Surely some hurling people on here have a thought on this?

The idea that 22 counties have the chance to win the Laim McCarthy cup at the start of the year is surely a good thing?

More competitive matches? Better chance of silverware?

North Side Gael (None) - Posts: 1076 - 13/06/2012 16:32:41    1193658

I prefer -

1). Muns 5 + Lein 4
2). To Muns 2 + Lein 2 + Quals 16 (losing 5 from provs + 11 non prov added)
3). To MunsLein champ playoff + Quals 10 (prov finalists + 8 Q1 winners).
4). To AI QFs 6 (playoff loser + 5 Q2 winners).
5). To AI SFs (playoff winner + 3 QF winners).

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3442 - 14/06/2012 12:44:54    1194135

Very elitest, as most teams who in my view be playing in a new qualifying tier would be out in round one of what your saying!

I think my format, gives competitive games to everyone, the opportunity or silverware to everyone and the opportunity to win the Laim MCCarthy Cup to 22 counties which has never been done before. This all addds up to brilliant potential marketing and promotion of the game.

North Side Gael (None) - Posts: 1076 - 14/06/2012 13:10:41    1194155

the gaa wont change the present set up the munster csip is sacred to them

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 3115 - 14/06/2012 13:20:55    1194169

The format i put in above allows for the munster and leinster championships to go ahead as planned, lets face facts like, a level of teams has risen its head that is too good for christy ring but not good enough for the big dogs in laim mc carthy, this doesnt have to be the end of the road, we could have a new tier with the winners gaining a place in the mc carthy qualifiers last round.

North Side Gael (None) - Posts: 1076 - 14/06/2012 14:03:12    1194202

sorry, is this happening or is it a suggestion?

Bal1991 (Westmeath) - Posts: 95 - 14/06/2012 15:35:47    1194286

A suggestion Bal1991

North Side Gael (None) - Posts: 1076 - 14/06/2012 16:28:01    1194362

I think my suggestion is very valid given what is being debated on the london thread, i also think its a very realistic view of the inter county hurling scene.

North Side Gael (None) - Posts: 1076 - 15/06/2012 08:13:43    1194626

To Lochra Gael -

"Most teams....would be out in first round". - no more than half can lose in any round

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3442 - 15/06/2012 12:41:20    1194817

Who is Laochra Gael?.....Where is he on this thread?

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 15/06/2012 12:44:32    1194823

Omahant "loachra gael" isnt on this thread as for your smart answer i was refering to the fact the more than 50 per cent of weaker teams would go out in the first round of your format.

North Side Gael (None) - Posts: 1076 - 15/06/2012 13:49:56    1194872

I like this new proposal. Great idea and should be implemented.

portavogielad (Down) - Posts: 446 - 15/06/2012 17:44:02    1195083

This will make the championship interesting at least for the weaker hurling counties, but can it really improve hurling in these counties. For instance, if Kerry won the New Tier Cup, were drawn against Tipperary in the qualifiers and got hammered, how will that help their situation. It's a valid point your making but the GAA should be focusing on improving hurling in these counties first

hurlinhand95 (Offaly) - Posts: 17 - 15/06/2012 18:24:49    1195122

NorthSideGael

Again, I don't think you actually need a new tier to do what you're suggesting, all you need is to have the counties you mentioned playing in the Christy Ring cup, with the winners and maybe runners up getting included in the Liam McCarthy qualifiers. The tier structure is already there, you just need to have a mechanism for the top two Ring teams to play in the Liam McCarthy qualifiers, and introduce proper relegation/promotion. Giving the Christy Ring teams an avenue to join the L. McCarthy qualifiers would change the nature, and status of the competition dramatically.

I'd initially thought you were suggesting a competition, essentially replacing the Leinster pre-lim rounds as we have them now, which would decide which of the developing teams would play in which competition for that year. Could also be worth considering.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 15/06/2012 18:30:46    1195131

Marlon, why would antrim/laois/carlow/westmeat want to play v kildare/armagh with all due respect they are a good bit of this level?

A new tier with the winners gaining a place in the last round of that years qualifiers plus automatic promotion the the following years laim mccarthy proper, give laim mc carthy incentive so if wex/offaly say were relegated its not a bad thing and they will more than likely accept it as a better route for them to get a weaker team to the all ireland finals.

North Side Gael (None) - Posts: 1076 - 16/06/2012 11:23:11    1195309

how about kilkenny vs a combined team from every other county save a lot of money and trees

hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 16/06/2012 14:59:42    1195469

North Side Gael
County: All
-------------------------------------

You bring up a good point,its not just about antrim/laois/carlow/westmeath etc, its also about Kerry, Wicklow, Down etc, would they not benefit from playing these teams? And if they weren't good enough, they'd move down to the Nicky Rackard. Thats how tiered systems work. If you starting making tiers for every specific level of county, you could end up with 10 tiers, and a very convoluted system. McCarthy, Ring etc are just names for the 1st tier, 2nd tier etc. I don't think Down or WIcklow would suddenly like to find themselves in the 3rd tier without even being given a chance to stay up.

Again, we're on the same page with regard to the Ring winners getting into the qualifiers, and having proper promotion/relegation. Hopefully the GAA will eventually see the sense in it as well.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 16/06/2012 16:51:36    1195527

Im not saying down/wicklow deserve to play kildare every year, but, Antrim/Laois/Carlow/WM/Kerry and London, have all won the christy ring cup bar Laois who have always maintained top tier status, these teams now find themselves, competitive with each other and in the Laim Mc Carthy, the others in the christy ring are simply waiting to enter this group, a group which will get a competitive game against one another in the top tier then a beating from a top ten team.

In my eyes, we have the top ten - who all regard themselves on their day as competitive with one another, then we have this group of 6 im talking about then the next group.

Maybe on the other hand the christy ring could be expanded to 12 teams, with the winner a straight promotion and relegation from laim mc. The winners could also have a place in the last round of the qualifiers.

12 Teams 4 groups of three, ie top teams seeded, ie Antrim, WM, Laois, Carlow, example group Antrim, Wicklow, Derry.

Top two from each group go to quarter final knock outs, to be played as double headers in Parnell Park and Newry.

Could heighten interest in the christy ring and the incentive of LMCC hurling would make it pretty exciting even for a relegated team such as offaly.

North Side Gael (None) - Posts: 1076 - 16/06/2012 21:01:47    1195738

furthermore on from this idea, i would add the 4 bottom placed teams into a "sheild competition" with semi finals, the winners competing for the sheild while the losers have a relegation play off, it would mean these sides championship doesnt end just there. This format could be extended down the line to the likes of Mayo, Tyrone & fermanagh, whereby they play of the same way for the nicky rackard with the bottom teams playing off for the Lory Meagher.

Bottom line though is Antrim/carlow V Westmeath/laois would seem an attractive Christy Ring Final, but the GAA need to stop charging 25 euro in on final day if they want to promote final day to none hurling people.

I would continue the finals as a triple header but play them in a smaller venue in the hope of making more atmosphere, a venue like,Parnell,Athletic Grounds or Pairc Eisler, maybe in time with proper admission prices, promotion and the likes of Offaly/Wexford/Limerick making a regular appearance in the new Christy Ring Comp

North Side Gael (None) - Posts: 1076 - 17/06/2012 08:40:20    1195786