There will be no relegation from the Liam MacCarthy Cup this year and Christy Ring Cup winners Carlow will still be allowed a place at the top table if the GAA's new proposals are accepted at Special Congress. The GAA has confirmed that a Special Congress will take place on October 10 next which will see the format for next year's hurling championship decided. There had been speculation that with no relegation set for this year, Carlow would be denied a place in next year's Liam MacCarthy Cup competition. However, the proposal to be put before delegates at the Special Congress sees the number of teams participating in the Tier 1 championship increase from 12 to 13. As a result, there would be a follow on of no relegation from the other grades - namely the Christy Ring and Nickey Rackard Cups in 2009 should the motion get the green light. The motion to go before the Special Congress in relation to the GAA All-Ireland Hurling Championship contains four sections. Sections A, B and C will provide the template for next year's competition if passed by delegates. Whether or not section D, which deals with promotion and relegation, is employed will depend on the deliberations of next year's Annual Congress in Newcastle, Co. Down in April. The proposal of this motion is required to allow draws and fixtures to be made for the 2010 season. Motion for Special Congress 2009 A. Enabling Motion That Special Congress, pursuant to its powers under Rule 3.43 (e), temporarily set aside Rule 6.27 (B) and (C), as these relate to: (i) The teams constituting Tiers 1, 2, 3 and 4 for the championships of 2010. (ii) The Promotion and Relegation provisions appertaining to each Tier in this rule arising from the championships of 2010. (iii) The formats of Tiers 1 and 4 as these relate to the proposed irregular number of participating teams in these Tiers in the championships of 2010. B. Constitution of Tiers (2010) That Special Congress then determines the constitution of Tiers 1, 2, 3 and 4 in 2010 as follows: Tier 1. The twelve counties named in current rule and Carlow (the winners of Tier 2 in 2009) - 13 teams in total. Tier 2. The eight counties named in current rule, excluding Carlow and including Meath (the winners of Tier 3 in 2009) - 8 teams in total. Tier 3. The eight counties/teams named in current rule excluding Meath and including Tyrone (the winners of Tier 4 in 2009) - 8 teams in total. Tier 4. The eight counties/teams named in current rule, excluding Tyrone - 7 teams in total. C. Formats of Tiers 1 and 4 (2010) That the formats of Tiers 1 and 4 in the championships of 2010 be adjusted to allow for the irregular numbers participating in them - thirteen and seven respectively. The adjustments to be as follows:- Tier 1 Phase 1 This shall comprise the five Provincial Championship First Round Losers (four in Leinster and one in Munster). A preliminary game, with an open draw determining the pairing and the first team drawn having a home venue, shall be played to reduce the number of teams in Phase 1 to four, as provided for in current rule. Phase 1 to then proceed as in current rule. Tier 4 This shall comprise seven teams, instead of eight teams as provided for in current rule. The current format be adjusted as follows:- Round 1 There shall be three pairings and one bye. Round 2 (a) The three winners and the bye team from Round 1 shall play two pairings (two games). Other than as provided for above, the format of all four Tiers shall be as in current rule. D. Promotion and Relegation That in order to bring the four Tiers back to their numerical strength specific in current rule and arising from the championship of 2010, one team from each of Tiers 1, 2 and 3 be relegated respectively to the next lower Tier. The process of relegation shall be as follows: From Tier 1 On the basis of the adjustment proposed in (C) above for Phase 1, there will be three losing teams in that Phase, and current rule provides that two teams from Phase 1 participate in the relegation process. A preliminary game, with an open draw determining the pairing, shall be played to reduce the number of teams to two i.e. the losers of the preliminary game and the bye team, both of whom shall participate in the relegation process. As in current rule, these two teams from Phase 1 shall be joined by the two teams defeated in Phase 2 of the Qualifier series, and they shall play-off over two rounds, on a knock-out format. Subject to the avoidance of repeat pairings, where feasible, a draw shall be made to determine the pairings. The losing team in the second round of the play-off shall be relegated to Tier 2 for the championship of 2011. From Tier 2 The two teams defeated in Round 2 (B) shall play-off. The losing team shall be relegated to Tier 3 for the championship of 2011. From Tier 3 The two teams defeated in Round 2 (b) shall play-off. The losing team shall be relegated to Tier 4 for the championship of 2011. There shall be no promotion from any tier arising from the championship of 2010. (All of (D) above to be subject to any alternative decisions that may be made at Annual Congress 2010). E. Future Notwithstanding the foregoing, Annual Congress 2010 shall consider a motion from Central Council (prepared following a full consultative process) that will make proposals concerning amending Rule 6.27 (B) and (C) in relation to:- (i) The constitution of each Tier with regard to the number of teams; and (ii) A process for promotion and relegation between the four Tiers. Ard-Chomhairle Tweet

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