Allianz Hurling Leagues 2014
OPTION 1
6 Team Groups Proposal with Quarter Finals
Key Principles:
- 3 Divisions split into “A” and “B” Groups based on 2013 league finishing positions
- Introduction of quarter finals to ensure an extra game for each county
- Promotion/Relegation between Divisions by means of Promotion/Relegation Play-Off (i.e. between Div 1 & Div 2; and between Div 2 and Div 3); i.e. a team must prove they are good enough to be promoted by beating the lowest ranked team above them
- Promotion/Relegation between Groups of the same Division is automatic (i.e between 1a and 1b, between 2a and 2b, between 3a and 3b; loser of relegation play-off is replaced the following year by top finishing team in B group)
- Each team in Division 1 can win the title in theory, regardless of which group they are in
- There is no longer a Division 1b final
- 2014 Leagues to be based on 2013 league finishing positions
Division 1 (12 Teams)
Division 1a (6 teams) – Top 5 teams from 2013 Div.1a & Div. 1b League Champions 2013
Division 1b (6 teams) – Relegated Div 1a team, beaten league finalists and teams finishing 3rd to 5th from 2013 leagues, Division 2 Champions
Maintain the regular rounds as currently structured (5 games each) but introduce Division 1 Quarter Finals & Semi-Finals as follows:
Quarter Finals
A. 1st placed Division 1a v 4th placed Division 1b
B. 2nd Division 1a v 3rd Division 1b
C. 3rd Division 1a v 2nd Division 1b
D. 4th Division 1a v 1st Division 1b
Quarterfinals to be on a Home and Away basis, with home venue decided as follows:
- Where a team who has had 2 home games in the Regular season draws a team who has had 3 home games in the Regular Season, HOME venue goes to team who has had only 2 home games in the Regular season
- Where two teams who have had 2 home games play each other, or where two teams who have had 3 home games play each other, toss for HOME venue
Semi-Finals
A v D,
B v C
Semi-Finals to be played at neutral venues
Relegation Play Offs between bottom placed teams in each Group with formula outlined above to be used to determine Home venue:
Division 1a: 5th place v 6th place (loser is relegated to Div 1b for 2015)
Division 1b: 5th place v 6th place (loser plays Division 2 winner in Relegation/Promotion play off)
Had this model been in place in 2012, the guaranteed 6th game for each County in Division 2 would have been as follows:
Division 1 Quarter Finals:
- Antrim v Kilkenny (Casement Park)
- Cork v Offaly (toss for home venue)
- Limerick v Tipperary (Gaelic Grounds)
- Waterford v Clare (toss for home venue)
Relegation Play-offs:
Galway v Dublin (1a)
Wexford v Laois (1b) – loser of this gane would have played Carlow for right to be in Division 1 (b) the following year
Division 2 (12 Teams)
Division 2a (6 teams) – Top 4 teams from 2013 Division 2a & Division 2b League Champions 2013 & Bottom placed Division 1b team from 2013
Division 2b (6 teams) – Relegated Div 2a team, beaten 2b league finalists and teams finishing 3rd to 5th from 2013 leagues, Division 3 Champions
Maintain the regular rounds in each group as currently structured (5 games each)
- Division 2a Final played between top placed teams in Division 2a
- Winners of Division 2a Final play loser of Division 1b relegation play off.
- Division 2b played between top placed teams in Division 2a
- Winners of Division 2b Final replace 6th place 2a team for 2015.
Division 3 (10 teams)
Division 3a (6 teams) – Top 4 teams from 2013 Division 3a; Division 3b League Champions 2013; Bottom placed Division 2b team from 2013
Division 3b (4 Teams)- Relegated 3a team from 2013, 3 x remaining teams from 2013 league
Maintain the regular rounds in each group as currently structured (5 games each)
- Division 3a Final played between top placed teams in Division 2a
- Winners of Division 3a Final play loser of Division 2b relegation play off in promotion/Relegation final
- Division 3b Final played between top placed teams in Division 3a
- Winners of Division 3b Final replace 6th place 3a team for 2015.
OPTION 2
Status Quo – 6 Team Groups Proposal
Roinn 1A
6 teams based on 2013 Finishing positions
- 5 Ordinary Rounds
- Top Three Teams go forward to Roinn 1 Semi Finals:
Top Team 1A v Winner 1B Final
2nd Team 1A v 3rd Team 1A
- Bottom Two Teams contest Relegation Play-Off – Loser relegated to Roinn 1B
Roinn 1B
6 teams based on 2013 Finishing positions
- 5 Ordinary Rounds
- Top Two Teams contest the Roinn 1B Final
- Winners of Final promoted to Roinn 1A and play in Roinn 1 Semi Final
- Bottom Two Teams contest Relegation Play-Off – Loser relegated to Roinn 2A
Roinn 2A
6 teams based on 2013 Finishing positions
- 5 Ordinary Rounds
- Top Two Teams contest Roinn 2A Final
- Winners of Final promoted to Roinn 1B
- Bottom Two Teams contest Relegation Play-Off – Loser relegated to Roinn 2B
Roinn 2B
6 teams based on 2013 Finishing positions
- 5 Ordinary Rounds
- Top Two Teams contest Roinn 2B Final
- Winners of Final promoted to Roinn 2A
Roinn 3A
6 teams based on 2013 Finishing positions
- 5 Ordinary Rounds
- Top Two Teams contest the Roinn 3A Final
- Bottom Two Teams contest Relegation Play-Off – Loser relegated to Roinn 3B
Roinn 3B
4 teams based on 2013 Finishing positions
- 3 Ordinary Rounds
- Top Two Teams contest the Roinn 3B Final
- Winners of Final promoted to Roinn 3A
N.B. There is no relegation from Roinn 2B or promotion from Roinn 3A.
OPTION 3
8 Team Proposal
Division 1 – 8 teams based on finishing positions in 2013 Leagues
i.e. All 2013 Division 1a teams & Division 1b League finalists
7 Regular round games
Semi-Finals to be played by the top four teams (1 v 4, 2 v 3) followed by League final
Bottom placed team after 7 regular round games plays Division 2 Champions for right to play in Division 1 for the following year.
Division 2 – 8 teams based on finishing positions in 2013 Leagues
i.e. The 4 Division 1b teams that do not make the 2013 1b league final, the two teams that qualify for the Division 2a final, the teams that finish 3rd and 4th in 2013 Division 2a.
7 Regular round games
Final played between top two teams; winner plays 8th place Division 1 team in promotion/relegation play-off*
Bottom placed team after 7 regular round games plays Division 3 Champions for right to play in Division 2 for the following year. *
Division 3 – 8 teams based on finishing positions in 2013 Leagues
i.e. The 2 remaining Division 2a teams from 2013, 1st – 5th place Division 2b teams from 2013(5) and the 2013 Division 3a champions.
7 Regular round games
Final played between top two teams; winner plays 8th place Division 2 team in promotion/relegation play-off*
Bottom placed team after 7 regular round games plays Division 4a Champions for right to play in Division 2 for the following year*
Division 4a (6 teams) – 6TH place team Div 2B 2013, 2nd – 5th place teams 2013 Division 3a; Division 3b League Champions 2013
5 Regular round games
Final played between top two teams. Winner plays 8th placed team in Division 3 in promotion/relegation play-off.
6th placed team after 5 regular round league games plays Division 4b Champions in promotion/relegation play-off
Division 4b (4 Teams)- Relegated 3a team from 2013, 3 x remaining teams from 2013 league
3 Regular round games
Final between top two teams
Winner of Final plays 6th placed 4a team in Promotion/Relegation play off.
* Will require change to Rule 6.37 to allow Division 2 and 3 of the Hurling leagues to be completed over 9 weekends
