The GAA has defended the rule which means HL Division 2A winners Kerry must take on Antrim in a play-off to determine who gets to play in Division 1B in 2016.

The Saffrons lost all their five games in Division 1B this year as well as a relegation play-off against Laois but get another chance to preserve their place in the second flight against the Kingdom this Saturday.

The same rule applies in Division 2B and 3A and GAA games manager Fergal McGill explained why to The Irish Independent: "The top 12 counties are in 1A and 1B. A county below that has to play its way into the top 12, rather than earning it automatically.

"We'd have concerns that if promotion applied automatically between 1B and 2A, it might reduce competitiveness in 1B.

"Division 2A winners are not being denied promotion, but they have to play their way up by beating the lowest-ranked team in 1B.

"History has shown that it's better for counties to be playing at their correct competitive level, rather than one above them.

"If the 2A champions beat the bottom team in 1B, they are promoted because they will have shown they can compete at that level."

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