New Hurling League.

[Toxicity234]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/201 ... expansion/

A proposal will be put to the Central Council of the GAA that will see an increase in the number of teams in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A from six to eight.
If it is carried, both Cork and Limerick would play in the top flight in 2014. The Rebels were beaten in a relegation play-off by Clare last spring, condemning them to Division 1B. Limerick lost out to Dublin for the right to get promoted from the second tier.
The number of teams contesting the latter division would remain at six under the proposed new format
Meetings were recently held with county officers to consider progress on the implementation of the National Hurling Development Plan.
Among the matters discussed was the structure of the Hurling League for next year. An opportunity to consider an alternative format was subsequently agreed.
The GAA’s Central Council will meet on Saturday, 12 October, where a simple majority vote will be required to implement the changes that, if accepted, will be in place for a five-year period.
Proposed restructuring of Allianz Hurling League
Division 1A Tipperary, Kilkenny, Galway, Waterford, Clare, Dublin
Cork, Limerick
Division 1B Offaly, Wexford, Antrim, Carlow, Laois, Westmeath
Division 2A Kerry, Derry, Wicklow, Kildare, Meath, London
Division 2B Down, Mayo, Armagh, Roscommon, Fingal, Donegal
Division 3A Louth, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Monaghan
Division 3B Longford, Sligo, Warwickshire, Leitrim

My god i hope the Offaly county board fight this tooth and nail.
Cork go down and they try to change the league, That some bull.
The GAA don't care about The Like of Offaly Limerick Wexford, Antrim, Carlow, Laois, Westmeath and Clare.
I don't think the league structure is correct but the leinster and munster champion were from 1B this year.
The Big loser here are Offaly and Wexford.

[joe bloggs]

An absolute joke if this goes through for next season. Just because cork were relegated. Another case of moving the goal posts after the match has started.At the very least this should not happen until 2015, that way all the teams now in 1b could fight for the two promotion spots from the start of the league.

[Slieve Bloom Man]

It is bringing changes like this straight away for next season rather than telling teams if you finish in such a position that you'll be in new 8 team 1a the following season that makes the GAA a joke at times. This is where the GAA REALLY ARE AMATEUR. As said above Offaly Co Board better fight it tooth and nail and it should not come into effect until 2015 season if it should come into effect at all. There needs to be a good long debate about structures rather than a quick decision.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Fighting it 'tooth and nail' is one thing. It appears to me that this is going to Central Council at the earliest possible opportunity. Each county has a single vote at Central Council, with a few of the top table also having a vote.

The top 8 counties will vote in favour. As will Carlow and Westmeath. Other counties down the line will get a relegation reprieve too (Kildare, London, Roscommon, Donegal). And then there are the Ulster counties (the likes of Tyrone) who know nor care nothing for hurling. Offaly, Wexford, Antrim and Laois need to start canvassing these counties from the northern half of the country for support on this. They need to start NOW.

The weight of democracy is against them unortunately, and this is effectively a 'done deal', possibly carried by as large a majority as 34 votes to 4.

[Bord na Mona man]

Once Cork got relegated, some sort of agitation was expected.
Them coming within a whisker of winning the All Ireland has helped their case.

And lets not get on our high horses here.
Offaly were at the forefront of looking for league restructures when we twice got relegated (2007 and 2008).
We got a reprieve a first time, but not the 2nd.

The unfairness for Offaly would be that the 1A teams get 7 group games and we would only get 5.
We're not significantly ahead than the rest of the teams in that Division to be telling the world that we're above playing them. Leix and Antrim will be delighted to hear any snootiness from Offaly and dish it back at us on the playing field.

At this stage, I'd rather they pick a league format and stick to it. Like 8 teams in the top divisions with 2 up and 2 down.
Not a format that changes whenever a top seed falls foul of it. It once against shows the GAA are a reactive organisation rather than one that has a clear vision.

I think too often Offaly people and observers outside of Offaly try to blame things like the 'de structures' for our current troubles. 'Offaly need to be hurling in the top division' tends to be cry of pundits when we lose.
Yet look at how Offaly treated top flight hurling in 2010 and 2011 - Targeted a couple of key relegation games and fulfilled the other fixtures. No obvious benefit IMO.

It's like when our underage teams lose by being bossed in the skills of the game, we turn it into a venue debate. Until certain fundamentals change, stuff like league structures is only a sideshow.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Here are the full proposals to be voted at Central Council on Saturday week -

ROINN 1A
Tiobraid Árann
Cill Chainnigh
Gaillimh
Port Láirge
An Clár
Áth Cliath
Corcaigh
Luimneach

Each team to play 7 ordinary rounds.
The top 3 teams contest the Roinn 1 Semi-Finals along with the Roinn 1B winner.
Semi-Finals: Top Team in Roinn 1A v Winner 1B; second team in Roinn 1A v third team in Roinn 1A.
The Semi-Final winners play in the Final.
The eighth placed team relegated to Roinn 1B.
The seventh placed team plays a relegation /promotion play off with the losers of the Roinn 1B Final.

ROINN 1B
Uíbh Fhailí
Loch Garman
Aontroim
Ceatharlach
Laois
Iar Mhí

Each team to play 5 ordinary rounds.
The top 4 teams contest the Roinn 1B Semi-Finals (1 v 4 and 2 v 3).
The Semi-Final winners play in the Roinn 1B Final.
The Roinn 1B Final winner is promoted to Roinn 1A and qualifies for the Roinn 1 Semi-Final.
The Roinn 1B Final loser plays a promotion/relegation play off with Team 7 from Roinn 1A.
The bottom team relegated to Roinn 2A.

ROINN 2A
Ciarraí
Doire
Cill Mhantáin
Cill Dara
An Mhí
Londain

Each team to play 5 ordinary rounds.
The top 2 teams contest the Roinn 2A Final.
The Roinn 2A Final winner is promoted to Roinn 1B.
The bottom team relegated to Roinn 2B.

ROINN 2B
An Dún
Maigh Eo
Ard Mhacha
Ros Comáin
Fingal
Dún na nGall

Each team to play 5 ordinary rounds.
The top 2 teams contest the Roinn 2B Final.
The Roinn 2B Final winner promoted to Roinn 2A.
The bottom team relegated to Roinn 3A.


ROINN 3A
An Lú
Fear Manach
Tír Eoghain
Muineachán

Each team to play 3 ordinary rounds.
The top 2 teams contest the Roinn 3A Final.
The Roinn 3A Final winners are promoted to Roinn 2B.
The bottom team relegated to Roinn 3B

ROINN 3B
Longfort
Sligeach
Warwickshire
Liatroim

Each team to play 3 ordinary rounds.
The top 2 teams contest the Roinn 3B Final.
The Roinn 3B Final winners are promoted to Roinn 3A.

[weisford]

If Offally and Wexford are to fight this they will have to come forward with an alternative at the very least

I tought Liam O Neill was a hurling man ?

Does he see Laois beating Offaly and Wexford and getting promoted with the two minster teams gone.

in 2013 Wexford hurler earned €4,500 from the hurling league while the footballers in Div 2 earned €26,000

I am not sure what offally earned ??

Would we be better off giving the league a miss and playing one another home and away and keeping 100 % of the gate If it seems we dont count anymore

[True Red]

in 2013 Wexford hurler earned €4,500 from the hurling league while the footballers in Div 2 earned €26,000

Just explain this one for me please?

[durra1]

Lads - am I wrong here or does this not give Offaly and other ‘best of the rest’ teams their very best chance of actually getting into Div. 1A?

Think about it – what chances have we of promotion from 1B in 2014 under the current format with Cork, Limerick, Wexford with a promotion/relegation play off v.s one of the top 8 to get up?

October the 2nd and many of the top 8’s club senior sides probably know who their management and selectors will be for 2014. Some will even have their winter training programme circulated.

Do we really think we are in a position to whinge about this format until we get our own shop in order? The hurling world cant wait for messers in the Offaly county board to come out of the mid-1990’s.

It’s like school again. Down to pass Maths with ye until you show the interest of the motivation to come into the honours class!

[weisford]

in 2013 Wexford hurler earned €4,500 from the hurling league while the footballers in Div 2 earned €26,000

Just explain this one for me please?

These figures are the share of the national league games that goes back to each county , The figures quoted above were announced at the last wexford county board meeting.

Wexford had two home games in the hurling league V Antrim and Dublin .

The antrim game was played on a saturday afternoon and attracted a small crowd.

In contrast wexford footballers were in Div 2 had four home games and had good crowds at the games.

Some at County board level would have the equilivant figures for Offaly.

I under stand Kilkenny got over €100,000 as they were involved in league final

[Plain of the Herbs]

GAA Communications Manager Alan Milton being hung out by his employer - with thanks to the poster known as 'Tom Sawyer' on Clarehurlers
http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2 ... 28872.html

[Slieve Bloom Man]

Look the new proposals probably are better in the long run -however they should NOT come in till 2015. Fight out 2014 league for positions in 2015. Just ridiculous it changes mid-point and ridiculous it changes year CORK are relegated. Sure, if Cork and Limerick reach 1B final ahead of Offaly, Wex etc -fine, they can be in 1A for 2015. But there is no guarantee they would both reach the final. Offaly Co Board very quiet -only Wexford making all the noise-fair play to them. Followin taken from Hoganstand:

Wexford GAA will 'vigorously oppose' the new hurling league proposals.

Under the headline 'Wexford to vigorously oppose proposed NHL changes', an article on the County Board's website (wexfordgaa.ie) reads: 'This evening saw the publication on GAA.ie of new proposals to restructure the National Hurling League and it's fair to say the reaction across the county has been a strong one.

'These proposals would see Limerick elevated to Division 1A and Cork avoiding the drop to 1B, increasing 1A to 8 teams and reducing 1B 6 teams. This proposal will go to Central Council for consideration and a vote on the 12th of October.

'Our Twitter account, @OfficialWexGAA has been inundated with supporters and past players expressing their anger and opposition to the proposals. There is a sense of grievance that these changes are being made to suit particular counties at the expense of Wexford.

'Wexford County Chairman, Diarmuid Deveraux has vowed to oppose this proposal, taking the fight to the highest levels and calling on the support of our friends and supporters to do so.

'The impact on Wexford would be hugely detrimental; we are looking forward to hopefully hosting Cork, Offaly and Limerick in 2014, now this would be snatched away should these proposals be accepted.

'There are of course financial impacts for Wexford, the 2013 hurling league income was the lowest ever, with only 2 home games. This has real consequences, damaging our ability to prepare, to fund development and compete, something Wexford GAA can't and won't ignore.

'The fact is that our young senior hurling team need more games at a higher level not fewer games.

'In addition this proposal would mean less opportunity for our supporters to see big names in action in Wexford Park, reducing the excitement and profile of the game in the county at a time when we are working hard to turn rejuvenate the game.

'The proposal smacks of an arbitrary decision, a reactionary move motivated by the prominence of Limerick and Cork in the latter stages of the championship.

'Wexford GAA will be mounting a vigorous campaign to oppose the proposal and need all our clubs, supporters and officials to support us in this. Now we need to work together, to focus and use our anger, for it to drive us on. Let's bounce back and demand the respect we deserve.' - See more at: http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.a ... vipvc.dpuf

[Kevin]

Copied this post over from another thread.

Can anyone else back up Ryot on his belief that the passage of this 'thing' requires 2/3 vote?

I see conflicting info elsewhere, but have no idea if it is accurate...

ryot wrote:
Offaly, Wexford, Antrim, Carlow, Laois, Westmeath.
Kerry, Derry, Wicklow, Kildare, Meath, London.
Down, Mayo, Armagh, Roscommon, Donegal.
Louth, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Monaghan.
Longford, Sligo, Warwickshire, Leitrim.

Are all being pissed on, being reduced to 5 and in some cases only 3 National League games in order to give the "Top Dogs" 7 games and promote the relegated Cork.

They have to Vote NO

and as its a proposal to change an already agreed position a two thirds needed, as Frank Murphy would insist if it were not suiting Cork.

Its time for us all to talk to our Club Officers and County Board Delegates and insist that Offaly votes NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


I hope you are correct about the 2/3 vote Ryot.

In the article here: http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling ... 26684.html

They mention that only 'Simple Majority' is required.

If its only simple majority then it is close to being done. Of the top 14 teams, 12 would seem to go for the new structure. If that is the case then

at least 15 of these:

Kerry, Derry, Wicklow, Kildare, Meath, London.
Down, Mayo, Armagh, Roscommon, Donegal.
Louth, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Monaghan.
Longford, Sligo, Warwickshire, Leitrim.

...would need to vote NO to defeat the measure.

The concern is ... how many of them care enough or will just go along for the ride with 'friends' as a favor for 'later repayment in kind'?

If its a simple majority we might be stuck.

This moving of the goalposts stuff is really annoying.

[beirut]

One of the most competitive leagues and championships in years and they want to change it. Eh why?

[Lone Shark]

Lads, let's not kid ourselves here. This will pass. There is no way that Ulster counties will oppose Frank Murphy over something they don't care about, it's just not worth the pain. The only option open to Offaly is to withdraw from the league, and to encourage Wexford, Laois and Antrim to join us. Carlow and Westmeath won't as they are similarly helped by this new system.

However if we got those three counties to join us, then you'd have a competive four team league, play each other home and away, and Offaly would actually be making a public statement that we won't be walked on. Now imagine we draw Cork in the championship next year after all this - it would be a game you'd walk over hot coals to get to.

I fear however, that we're on the ground and Frank has his boots on and he's about to start stomping, while we just smile up at him.