Galway and Antrim will compete in the Leinster SHC for the next three years after the change received a huge backing at the Special Congress in Croke Park. The proposal needed a two third majority to be accepted and nearly 80 per cent of delegates voted in favour. The Connacht and Ulster side will now be in the draw for the 2009 Leinster SH which will take place next Wednesday evening, alongside Dublin, Offaly, Wexford and Laois as six teams take part in three quarter-final ties. Kilkenny are handed a bye into the last four and a draw will take place for the provincial semi-finals, which means the other six sides in Leinster will not know who is facing the All-Ireland champions until the three quarter-final games are played. The changes to the championship will also include the introduction of the Lory Meagher Cup and a reduction in the number of sides in the Christy Ring Cup, resulting in four tiers of hurling championship. Tweet

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