DRAFT PROPOSALS ON THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL & HURLING LEAGUES AND FOOTBALL & HURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 25 Lúnasa 2006 NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE Division 1 - 9 teams - Clare, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Galway, Kilkenny, Offaly and Wexford. Format Each team to play each other i.e. 4 home and 4 away games with the top four teams to participate in the Semi-Finals i.e. 1 V 4 and 2 V 3. Division 2 - 9 teams - Antrim, Down, Dublin, Laois, Carlow, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and Kerry. Format Each team to play each other i.e. 4 home and 4 away games with the top four teams to participate in the Semi-Finals i.e. 1 V 4 and 2 V 3. Division 3 - 8 teams - Mayo, Roscommon, Armagh, Derry, London, Wicklow, Donegal and Longford. Format Each team to play each other i.e. 3 home and 4 away games (or vice versa) with the top four teams to participate in the Semi-Finals i.e. 1 V 4 and 2 V 3. Division 4 - 7 teams -Louth, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Fermanagh, Monaghan and Tyrone. Format - Each team to play each other home and away i.e. 3 home and 3 away games with the top four teams to participate in the Semi-Finals i.e. 1 V 4 and 2 V3. Option Two Retain uniform Division sizes in both Hurling and Football Leagues i.e. Divisions of eight Bonus Point in National Hurling League Teams which score two or more goals from play to be awarded a bonus point. Option Two Do not use the Bonus Point factor Promotion & Relegation One team to be promoted and relegated from each Division. Provision to be made to include a team from *South Dublin in Division 3 from 2008. Option Two South Dublin Teams: It is recommended that the concept is tried out within the Province as a first step after consultation with the Dublin County Board. Option Two Extra time will be played in all knock-out games (if necessary) * It is felt that the provision being made to accommodate more teams from Dublin in 2008 can be justified on the basis of: ? The Association's significant investment in Dublin. ? The population base - it's not possible in a development context - for one team to do justice to either the population base or the level of investment. ? The South and North Dublin teams would be used as feeders for the Dublin team participating in Tier 1 i.e. would be used to blood good young players coming through the Coaching Academy. ? Participation would serve as a useful benchmark against which standards can be compared. ? Will give a better overall balance to the Hurling competitive structures. NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Create four divisions of eight teams, with the divisions being designated numerically (Divisions 1, 2, 3, 4). Each team will play all the other teams in its division. The team which finishes on top of each division wins that division's league. Option Two: The Top teams in each Division play in the Finals. Both promotion and relegation to be organised on the basis of two or three teams up/two or three teams down. Option Two: It is proposed that Team Eight in Division 1, 2 and 3 is relegated and Team One from Division 2, 3 and 4 is promoted. Team 7 plays Team 2 for the right to gain/retain higher status. Divisions 1 and 2: Promotion and Relegation The teams which finish seventh and eighth in Division 1 will be relegated to Division 2. The teams which finish first and second in Division 2 will be promoted to Division 1. The team which finishes sixth in Division 1 will play the team which finishes third in Division 2 to decide which team will play in Division 1 the following year. Divisions 2 and 3: Promotion and Relegation The teams which finish seventh and eighth in Division 2 will be relegated to Division 3. The teams which finish first and second in Division 3 will be promoted to Division 2. The team which finishes sixth in Division 2 will play the team which finishes third in Division 3 to decide which team will play in Division 2 the following year. Divisions 3 and 4: Promotion and Relegation The teams which finish seventh and eighth in Division 3 will be relegated to Division 4. The teams which finish first and second in Division 4 will be promoted to Division 3. The team which finishes sixth in Division 3 will play the team which finishes third in Division 4 to decide which team will play in Division 3 the following year. The play-off games (i.e. sixth team in higher division versus third team in lower division) will be played on the weekend following the final round of league games. Note :If Kilkenny re-enter the NFL, there will be nine teams in Division 4. It is the view of the Task Group members that the team which finishes on top of each division should win that division's league. However, if GAC/Ard Comhairle decides that a final should be played in each division, then the top two teams will play in the final. Extra time will be played in the event of a draw. Note: 1. Where teams finish level on points, scoring difference will be used to determine all finishing positions in the tables. 2. Should counties still be tied after the application of score difference, the highest total score achieved (score 'for') will be used to determine positions in the table. If teams are tied after the application of score 'for', the highest number of goals scored will determine positions. 3. Should teams remain tied after the application of all the above tie-breaking mechanisms, the result of the game between the teams concerned will decide final positions. The task group strongly recommends that these changes in league structure would be implemented for the 2008 National Football League, and that the allocation of teams to divisions will be based on final placings in the 2007 National Football League. Option Two Commence new format in 2007. Proposed Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4. Option Two Bonus Point to be considered also in line with Hurling League decision. National Football League Groupings 2007 if four divisions structure (preferred option) is implemented immediately Division 1 - Mayo, Kerry, Tyrone, Dublin, Laois, Galway, Derry, Down Division 2 - Kildare, Armagh, Louth, Westmeath, Cork, Fermanagh, Donegal, Limerick Division 3 - Offaly, Monaghan, Roscommon, Leitrim, Meath, Wexford, Cavan, Tipperary Division 4 - Sligo, Antrim, Waterford, Wicklow, Longford, Clare, Carlow, London Reasons for Task Group's preference for structure of four divisions of eight teams - it ensures an extremely competitive league in all four divisions. - it achieves balanced groupings, which will be attractive to players and spectators and avoids the unbalanced sections which can arise in 16 team divisions. - it gives weaker counties the opportunity to experience success at their own level and to progress on a gradual basis. - because of more gradual promotion up through the levels, it will reduce the problem currently experienced by many counties of finding the step-up from Division 2 to Division 1 too sudden and, as a result, too demanding. - the increase in the number of counties changing division each year will refresh the league and keep it interesting. This is preferable to constant changes in structure. - the opportunity for three teams to gain promotion from each of the lower divisions will provide an incentive for improvement and will make competition in lower divisions more intense than in the past. As will be seen later in our recommendations, we also propose that final NFL placings dictate eligibility for the All-Ireland Qualifiers. This will lend further importance to league placings in the lower divisions, and will thus increase competitiveness. ALL IRELAND HURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS Tier 1 Championship - 12 Teams (Liam McCarthy Cup) 5 Munster, 5 Leinster, 1 Connacht (Galway) and 1 Ulster (Antrim) Format Competition to be played on a Provincial Championship basis with two Qualifier groups. 4 Counties in each Qualifier group with teams playing on a round robin basis. Qualifier 1 Connacht, Ulster and first round losers in Leinster and Munster. Qualifier 2 Beaten Semi-Finalists in Leinster and Munster. Option Two The eight Counties are divided into two groups of four on an open draw basis. Quarter Finals Provincial Winners and Runners-Up on one side of draw with top two teams from each of the two Qualifier Groups on the other side. The Provincial Winners to be drawn against the second team from either Qualifier Group. The Provincial Runners-Up to be drawn against the top team from either Qualifier Group. The Provincial Quarter Finals to be played - as a double bill - on two separate Sunday's with a game involving the Provincial winners being played each Sunday. Extra-time to be played in the event of a drawn Quarter Final. (This is to facilitate the finalisation of arrangements for the All-Ireland Semi Finals in terms of both the Fixtures Schedule and Pairings). No promotion or relegation from Tier 1 on the basis that (a) there is currently too big a gulf in standards between the participating teams and (b) so that energy can be focused on ensuring that the teams participating in Tier 1 are as competitive as possible. Option Two Promotion - Relegation Counties are required to win their way to promotion i.e. bottom team in the Liam McCarthy Cup plays the Christy Ring winner, bottom team in Christy Ring Cup plays Nicky Rackard winner to determine positions. Tier 2 (Christy Ring Cup) - 10 Teams Carlow, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath, Wicklow, Kerry, London, Down, Mayo and Derry. Format Two groups of 5. Each County plays 4 games and the top two teams in each group cross over in the Semi-Finals. No relegation in 2007 and provision to be made to include a team from *South Dublin in 2008 subject to consultation with Dublin County Board. (Tier 2 Competition in 2008 to be structured on the basis of Four Groups of 3 drawn on a seeded basis). Tier 3 (Nicky Rackard Cup) - 12 Teams Armagh, Cavan, Donegal, Fermanagh, Monaghan, Tyrone, Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo, Longford, Louth and Warwickshire. Format Four Groups of 3 drawn on a seeded basis. Each team within a Group to play each other i.e. 2 games (one home and one away) with the top two teams in each Group progressing to Quarter Finals. Quarter Final pairings to be decided on an open draw basis. Winner to be promoted to Tier 2 in 2008. Provision to be made to replace the winners of Tier 3 in 2007 with a team from *North Dublin thereby retaining the same Tier 3 format in 2008 i.e. Four Groups of 3 drawn on a seeded basis. Option Two South Dublin teams: It is recommended that the concept is tried out within the Province as a first step after consultation with the Dublin County Board. ALL IRELAND SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS (including All-Ireland Qualifiers) and Tommy Murphy Cup ___________________________ Proposed changes in structure 1. The eight lowest-ranked teams in the NFL* (i.e. those teams in Division 4, under the proposed league structure, or the bottom four teams in Division 2A and 2B, under the existing league structure) will play in the Provincial/All-Ireland championship and Tommy Murphy Cup but not in Rounds 1or 2 of the All-Ireland Qualifiers. ( A team that is eligible for the Tommy Murphy Cup but qualifies for the Provincial final will not play in the Tommy Murphy Cup but will play in Round 3 of the Qualifier). This eligibility ranking of teams for the Championship will be determined by teams' end-of-league placings (when all promotion and relegation issues have been decided) and therefore by their divisional status for the following year's NFL. * nine teams if Kilkenny take part. 2. All other teams (i.e. except the eight lowest-ranked teams in the NFL), will play in the Provincial/All-Ireland championship - including the All-Ireland Qualifiers - but not in the Tommy Murphy Cup. 3. The structure of the All-Ireland Qualifiers will be as follows: Round 1 - All eligible teams who do not qualify for Provincial Finals > 16 teams; 8 games. Round 2 - Winners of Round 1 > 8 teams; 4 games. Round 3 - Winners of Round 2 will play Provincial Runners-up. Remainder of championship: as at present 4. Round 1: Completely Open Draw. First team drawn to play at home subject to home venue having satisfied the National Infrastructure and Safety Committee Criteria. No designated teams or restrictions. 5. Round 2: As Round 1, above. 6. Round 3: As Round 4 at present. Remainder of championship: as at present. Option Two: It is recommended that the selection of venues for Round 3 is left to a decision of the Games Administration Committee. The Task Force also suggests that (i) GAC examines the possibility of restoring a draw rather than pre-ordained pairings at the quarter/semi-final stages. Option Two Retain the preordained pairings in order to facilitate scheduling (ii) Congress be allowed to consider a proposal that extra time be played in all Provincial Championships (Provincial Finals excepted) and Round 1,2 and 3 Qualifier games. Notes: It would be fairer to all counties if this revised structure was introduced in 2008. Two NFL competitions would give every team a chance to find a level from Division 1 to Division 4 Teams playing in the Tommy Murphy Cup will qualify for the same share of Qualifier income as teams playing in the Qualifier. Reasons for proposed changes in structure 1. The Tommy Murphy Cup, as presently constituted, is not working. Many counties that aspire to win Provincial or All-Ireland titles are in the competition only to safeguard their share of Qualifier income and are fielding weakened teams in the competition. 2. It places too much pressure on the playing of club championships when a county plays one or two games in the Provincial championship, two rounds of the Qualifier and then plays in the Tommy Murphy Cup. 3. A competition confined to teams in Division 4 of the league will have the status of a championship for that division. 4. It provides Division 4 teams with a realistic chance to experience success, while playing the final in Croke Park and winning a trip overseas, will provide additional incentive and reward. 5. Division 4 teams winning the Tommy Murphy Cup will have an incentive to get back to Round 1 and 2 of the Qualifier through a good league performance the following year. It is a natural progression for teams that win a competition to set their sights higher for the next season. 6. There will be a significant turnover of teams in the Tommy Murphy Cup as two or three counties will be promoted from the Tommy Murphy Cup (Division 4) each year to Round 1or 2 of the Qualifier (Division 3 ) each year. 7. Reducing the number of rounds of the Qualifier from four to three, and playing Rounds 1 and 2 on successive weekends, will ease the pressure on club fixtures. 8. All counties will have the chance to qualify for the All-Ireland Quarter-finals through the Provincial Championships and by winning in Round 3 of the Qualifier. Proposed fixtures calendar (football) 2008 (i.e. how fixtures calendar would look if revised system operated in 2008) _____________________________________ 3 February - N.F.L. Round 1 10 February - N.F.L. Round 2 2 March - N.F.L. Round 3 9 March - N.F.L. Round 4 16 March - N.F.L. Round 5 23 March - N.F.L. Round 6 6 April - N.F.L. Round 7 12/13 April - N.F.L. Play-offs and/or finals 10 May - 2 June - Provincial championships Prelim/First Round/Quarter finals of Provincial Championships * Note: Championships may not start before 10 May 8/15/22 June - Provincial championships semi-finals 5/6 July - Round 1 Qualifiers Round 1 Tommy Murphy Cup Two Provincial Football Finals 12/13 July - Round 2 Qualifiers Semi-Finals Tommy Murphy Cup Two Provincial Football Finals 26/27 July - Round 3 Qualifiers 2/3/4 August - Two All-Ireland Football Quarter Finals Tommy Murphy Cup Final - Croke Park 9/10 August - Two All-Ireland Football Quarter Finals 17 August - All-Ireland Football semi-final 24 August - All-Ireland Football semi-final 21 September - All-Ireland Football Final (to be played on third Sunday of September each year). Notes on proposed fixtures calendar (football) 2008 ____________________________ 1. There will be a minimum of four/five weeks between the end of the league and the start of provincial championships. Club championships can be played in this period. 2. From, at the latest, the first weekend in June to the second weekend in July, sixteen counties (all except those in provincial finals) will have a minimum of five weeks in which to play club championship games. Most of the eight counties defeated at the provincial semi-final stage will be able to play one round of their club championship after their provincial semi-final and before the All-Ireland Qualifiers begins. 3. The proposal to play Rounds 1 and 2 of the Qualifiers on successive weekends in July is absolutely crucial to reducing the interruption to club fixtures. 4. Playing two rounds of the Qualifiers on successive weekends is fair to all teams involved. All teams will go into round 2 following a win the previous week. 5. Playing full rounds of the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cups on the same dates as Rounds 1 and 2 of the Qualifiers and Tommy Murphy Cup will minimise overlap between club and inter- county fixtures. 6. Playing the All-Ireland Football final on the third rather than the fourth Sunday of September facilitates the playing of club championship games. Making it easier to play Club Fixtures ___________________________________ The Club Fixtures Work Group, the Competitions Work Group 2001, and the Competitions Review Task Force 2004 all made recommendations which attempted to facilitate the playing of club games. The 2001 report made the following point: Counties that "abandon" their Club Championships during the duration of the Inter County Championships are effectively seeking to gain an advantage over opposing counties that adhere to the Central Council policy that proper status to be given to the Club Championships and that an adequate and streamlined competition schedule be provided. This should not be allowed, and severe penalties for breach of Policy should be applied if necessary. Little has changed for the better in the meantime. We reaffirm the following recommendations: (i) That the Provincial Councils use their power under Rule 71 T.O. to carry out a Games Audit and examine the fixtures programme in each of the counties under its jurisdiction, and to make recommendations or take any action deemed necessary in relation to same. (ii) That all counties be required to submit their respective Championship programme to their Provincial Councils by 31 March each year, and that the Provincial Councils either approve the programme or instruct adjustment to be made to it, as is considered necessary. (iii) That the Provincial Councils monitor the progress of each county's Adult Championship schedule on a monthly basis. (iv) That any postponement of club championship games be notified to the Provincial Councils within three days of the original date of the game, and that the reason for the postponement be given. (v) That the Provincial Councils impose penalties for non-compliance with the directives and, where necessary, report non-compliance with the Association's policy to Central Council. (vi) That Central Council give the Management Committee plenary powers to disqualify any county from an Intercounty Championship where a county refuses to comply with the Central Council policy on the organisation of a Club Championship Fixtures Programme and/or the directives of the Provincial Council in such matters. In addition, we add the following specific proposals: 1) That all preliminary/first round and quarter-final games in the Provincial Senior Football championships be played between the second weekend in May and the first weekend in June. Provincial football championships may not, therefore, begin before the second weekend in May. 2) That the All-Ireland Football Final be played on the third Sunday in September. This will give an extra week after the All-Ireland Final for the playing of club championships. 3) That each Provincial Council organise an annual seminar for its counties between 1October and 30 November on the issue of more effective fixture-making. Despite the current serious and widespread problems in this area, there are examples of good practice which should be shared Tweet

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