Following today’ meeting of the Ard Chomhairle Wexford Chairman, Diarmuid Deveraux has thanked GAA President Liam O’Neill for his leadership in supporting the bringing forward by Michael Burns of the National Fixtures Planning Committee, of an alternative seeded system for the Allianz National Hurling Leagues.
The proposals, put forward as an alternative to those opposed by Wexford GAA were, said Deveraux to be welcomed and he looked forward to discussing them at County Board. All counties will now be afforded an opportunity to discuss the proposals before Ard Chomhairle reconvenes to discuss the matter.
Wexford GAA wishes to thank supporters and officials around Ireland for their much valued support over the last number of days.
Ard Chomhairle also agreed to stage any future All-Ireland final replays on Saturdays following the success of the recent hurling final replay.
Alternative Hurling League proposal
1. Step 1:
List the top twelve hurling counties as follows, grading the top four as “A” teams, the next 4 as “B” teams, and the bottom 4 as “C” teams. (Based on previous year’s league results and subsequent promotion/ relegation)
Example
Counties
1
Tipperary
A
2
Kilkenny
A
3
Galway
A
4
Waterford
A
5
Clare
B
6
Cork
B
7
Limerick
B
8
Dublin
B
9
Offaly
C
10
Wexford
C
11
Antrim
C
12
Laois
C
Step 2
Put teams in 2 equal sections ( two As, two Bs and two Cs in each section). These would be drawn.
SAMPLE
National Hurling League Proposal
Section I
Section II
A
Tipperary
A
Kilkenny
A
Waterford
A
Galway
B
Clare
B
Cork
B
Dublin
B
Limerick
C
Offaly
C
Wexford
C
Laois
C
Antrim
1. Step 3
a. Each County plays each county in its own section once. (5 games)
b. Each County plays the two teams of the same grade in the opposite section (2 games)
c. Top two teams in each section enter semi finals
d. Bottom teams in each section play-off for relegation
1. Team Schedule
A team: Tipperary will play
Waterford (home), Clare (Home), Dublin (Away), Offaly (Home), Laois (Away) (5 games)
Plus Kilkenny (Home) and Galway (Away). (2 games) (Inter-Section games)
B team: Clare will play
Tipperary (Away) Waterford (Home), Dublin (Home), Laois (home) Offaly (Away), (5 games)
Plus Cork (Home) and Limerick (Away). (2 games)
C team: Laois will play
Tipperary (Home) Waterford (Away), Clare (Away), Dublin (Home), Offaly (Away), (5 games)
Plus Wexford (Home) and Antrim (Away). (2 games)
(This gives a slight advantage to ‘C’ teams but that would be a positive)
1. Each county gets 7 games with at least 3 home games
1. Each county plays at least 2 “A” counties each year
1. All “A” counties will play each other
1. All 10 “strong” hurling counties involved
1. Semi Final and Relegation structure simple
2015 grading will be decided by finishing position in 2014.
