The system of relegating teams in the current hurling league is a mess and has been brought about by a persisitent "fixing by plaster" approach. There is a protectionist ethos in the GAA regarding the "Tier 1" counties and this leads to every effort being made to ring-fence these counties into top level competitions without giving any consideration to the long-term aspirations of other counties.

Take the top 3 divisions in hurling - each of them has a different relegation system in place. In 1A, the bottom 2 teams (Clare and Kilkenny) meet in a play-off for one team to go down. For what it's worth, Clare should be relegated as they finished last. In 1B, nobody goes down, the bottom team (decided by a play-off) has the safety net of playing the winners from 2A. To win 2A and not get promoted is the second-biggest joke in the hurling world (after the plight of club players) and a self-confessed President, L O'Neill, allowed this to exist on his watch. Promotion of hurling my granny. Then in 2A, the bottom team, Wicklow, got relegated automatically. Three divisions, three different systems.

The league format for years was the same as football, groups of 8, 2 up and 2 down. Now by all means, tinker with it slightly when it comes to relegation - for example, let the bottom team be relegated automatically and let the 6th and 7th play off to determine the second relegated team - but there is nothing wrong with that older system and it gives counties who feel they are in the "wrong division" every chance to come back up as one of the two promoted sides.

The only valid srgument against that I can see is that a county might be in the second tier of 8 and not get the same quality games. For example, based on this year's league placings, Wexford would be in this division next year and end up playing Carlow, Westmeath, Derry etc. next year. My answer to that is simple and two-fold...if they were good enough, they wouldn't be in that plight and also, it they are good enough they are only one year away from getting back up.

This league structure would involve 2 extra games for a team. If that causes a problem, either ditch the quarter-finals or factor in a randomly-determined round less so you'd end up playing 6 of the 7 teams in the division - no big deal.

As it stands, however, it's a tinkered- with mess that has arisen from short-sighted protectionism without any thought to long-term development of hurling. Worse still, it's easily fixed.

1914 (Clare) - Posts: 92 - 23/03/2015 12:56:40    1705580

Well said!

beansycpn (Down) - Posts: 128 - 23/03/2015 13:38:56    1705602

Hold on now... Your post is about promotion of hurling but you want to see Wexford shafted again? I don't understand

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3156 - 23/03/2015 14:10:14    1705611

Here we go....a county not happy with their relegation wanting a re-structure to suit themselves....an annual occurence on here!!

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 23/03/2015 14:18:56    1705620

Well he or she is from Clare and he said they should be relegated forthwith. You can hardly say his agenda is only supporting his own county.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4467 - 23/03/2015 14:40:01    1705635

Yes but proposing an 8-team division, no doubt Clare being kept in 1A.....

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 23/03/2015 14:57:39    1705644

Did you not actually read the post Pinkie or Doyler? He/she said Clare deserve to be relegated and I agree we do.

You don't always have to fight on here for Wexford. It was actually a good post. The hurling leagues need to be looked at no doubt, not to benefit anyone in particular but they should'be looked at.

BannerBoy2013 (Clare) - Posts: 325 - 23/03/2015 15:10:57    1705648

The current system works just fine.

Only chance is the winner of 2A should be promoted automatically.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1197 - 23/03/2015 15:16:03    1705651

It's simple: it's automatic promotion to 'A' if you win a 'B' division & automatic relegation from 'A' if you lose your division playoff. If you want to go from Division 3 to Division 2 or from Division 2 to Division 1 you have to beat the bottom team in the above division. I'd like to see divisional quarter-finals (or even semi-finals) system in place for divisions 2 & 3 as are there now for Division 1.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 23/03/2015 15:28:58    1705661

The format in Division 1A is fine: The top 4 go to the quarter final and the bottom 2 play a relegation play-off, this should be the same in all the divisions. In Division 2A the top 2 play a final with the winner going into a promotion-relegation game with the loser of Division 1B-how are anyone meant to win that?

mayo_hurler (Mayo) - Posts: 113 - 23/03/2015 15:36:51    1705666

I think they should just leave it as it is. Being in 1B did Limerick and Cork no harm last couple of years. If you're good enough you'll come up. If we "Clare" go down we'll take it on the chin, just try and do what Waterford did this year, come straight backup.

BannerBoy2013 (Clare) - Posts: 325 - 23/03/2015 16:04:30    1705676

Is it true that Antrim haven't won a point in div 1a in two seasons and they still get to stay in that division ? Bit of a joke if that's true.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 23/03/2015 16:06:08    1705677

KingdomBoy, Yes they lost all their games for 2 seasons and still remain in 1B blocking all 2A teams from advancing.

mayo_hurler (Mayo) - Posts: 113 - 23/03/2015 16:54:24    1705704

The current system is the best we've ever had. The only thing needs changing is the 2a 1b play off which has already happened. That won't exist next year. Problem solved.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3156 - 23/03/2015 17:37:49    1705719

It's very unfair mayo hurler.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 23/03/2015 18:22:23    1705739

I for one feel the current set up of the league is as good as we can get with the exception of the relegation issue from division 1B. Whoever the loser from the Laois vs Antrim match should be relegated without question and the division 2b winners should go straight up.

Baxter (Laois) - Posts: 282 - 23/03/2015 19:04:24    1705753

to the clare posters above,i would be absolutely 100% sure that when this was being discussed last year,you were the very people saying 'leave it alone', 'you get promoted and relegated for a reason','your in 1B for a reason' etc etc.and if i get time i will dig out these very posts if they still exist.

the current system of 2x6 is absolutely fine.but for me,the bottom team in each should be relegated,top team promoted,and 2nd from top plays 2nd from bottom in the league above.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 23/03/2015 19:29:09    1705765

Wexford and Clare posters get on well here!

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1467 - 23/03/2015 20:38:38    1705801

Firstly, I don't agree with the first post at all. If there was a premier division of 8 teams there would end up been a load of pointless matches. Had Kilkenny not been missing a hat full of players through injury and club all ireland, they wouldn't of lost as many games. This would of meant that like last year a lot could of been decided on the last day. The current format promotes the highest standard of hurling in 1A.
Secondly, I think it's only right that the bottom team in 1b plays the top team in 2a. This is for the benefit of the division 2 team. The gulf in class between the divisions is huge and Kerry or Westmeath coming up to get hammered in every game is a waste of time. Hurling is not like soccer where a division 2 or 3 team can tactically beat a division 1 team. The division 1 team will always win.
Finally, I think it is good to have different formats to the lower tiers, I'm sure Westmeath players would rather the opportunity of playing in a final for a cup rather than just meeting Antrim. It gives the lower down teams more games which they need. 1b is obviously different because the teams go into the quarter finals with 1a teams.

Faithfull (Offaly) - Posts: 573 - 23/03/2015 22:01:17    1705860

I understand the frustration caused by the inconsistencies across the 3 Divisions. But bear in mind since the changes to the leagues were brought in it has actually made the games/leagues far more competitive to watch. Which I believe was the intention of those who altered the league structures in the first place. If there is to be more changes to the league structure they have to preserve the current competitive nature of the leagues. The leagues prior to the changes where glorified challenge matches and that was doing serious damage to the game.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4942 - 24/03/2015 08:11:45    1705863