Now maybe I am basing this on my own experience this year, but for me, the commentary that 1B is the best place to be hurling is complete and utter nonsense.
This belief that it is better for developing teams to be hurling in 1B, why? I would consider Wexford a developing team. Yet I feel we are much better off in 1A hurling the top teams.
Maybe a year or two in 1B is OK for a team, but long term being in 1B is damaging to the teams, morale and players and supporters alike.
Comparing this years league with the previous 5-10 years for Wexford, the atmosphere has been superb at county matches. With all due respect, playing Laois and Antrim does not generate the hype of Kilkenny, Tipp and Cork.
And why any team, with any sort of aspiration or ambition, would rather be in 1B than 1A just because you have easier games, is a mentality I have never understood. If you want to be top dog, you need to play the top dogs.
Am I wrong?

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 26/02/2018 13:19:24    2080462

You're not wrong but I wouldn't say you're right either. The league only matters while it's on whereas the championship is talked about all year round and in to the next. There isn't a county out there who lost yesterday that is really bothered by it but a loss in the championship is a big big deal.

So 1a or 1b doesn't really matter if you use the league for what it is - prep for the championship. Limerick like Wexford live in 1B and to be honest I couldn't care less. I'd take as much notice of us beating Antrim in Feb as I would Kilkenny. The GAA can dress it up all they want. The league doesn't really matter.

mike03 (Limerick) - Posts: 2000 - 26/02/2018 13:38:12    2080476

have a feeling limerick could go on win the league outright this year.....will that b the third or 4th year in a row for a team from 1b to win it outright if they did

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 736 - 26/02/2018 14:30:03    2080528

I think that there will be a tweaking of the NHL structure again soon anyway. The new championship format and April being designated as club month will dictate that. In addition the Fitzgibbon cup has to be accommodated. 7 divisions of 5 teams is the way forward imo. It gives everyone 2 home and 2 away games. Bottom team relegated and top team win league and promoted. 5 weeks of hurling with league completed on last Sunday of March. Division 2 would be a lot more competitive as a result too.

Tadhgmacda (Limerick) - Posts: 99 - 26/02/2018 15:05:08    2080556

1B was a large part of Galway's success last year. 1A is a similar to an illegal dog fight. Being able to sit on the porch with the puppies early in the year allowed Galway to come into the latter stages fresh and not worn down. This stayed with Galway into the Championship.

The same will happen this year. Thus far Galway (Minus a small scare from Antrim) have been able to stay fresh and experiment with some players. If Galway were in 1A we would not be able to afford to give David Burke and Joe Canning the extended break or give some new faces the game time they have gotten.

I think its a major advantage for Galway as one of the top teams.

TheFullBack (Galway) - Posts: 110 - 26/02/2018 15:16:48    2080566

A lot óf that commentary seems to be based around the notion that you can utilise 1b as a quasi training session...blood young players rest older ones etc. Without the pressure of relegation hanging over you If..... and it's a qualified if... . You are genuine championship contenders like Galway were in 2017. Then 1b can prove useful.

For the likes of Limerick its been a bit of a wasteland these last few years. Too good for the bulk of the teams but not good enough to get out when it comes to the crunch.
New championship format might actually prove the demise of the whole 1a, 1b structure in the end.

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1062 - 26/02/2018 15:36:17    2080572

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 26/02/2018 16:10:42    2080605

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1102 - 27/02/2018 21:21:28    2081095

I think if Wexford, Limerick, Cork or even Kilkenny were to win the National League this year it certainly would mean something to them & should be a big booster going into the championship.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 27/02/2018 22:00:13    2081113

1B suits Galway this year. I think Galway would of done similar last year and possibly still of won the League if in 1A last year as they were fully prepared for it (few months of training, competing in the Walsh Cup). It suits this year because they weren't back training till mid January. Same as Waterford. And like Waterford if Galway were in 1A this year they would of struggled badly against better prepared teams. So I think 1A suits nearly every team apart from the All Ireland Finalists if they take similar approaches post All Ireland as Galway and Waterford did. Galway are catching up quick but may not be quick enough for Limerick.

SamandLiamSoon (Galway) - Posts: 591 - 27/02/2018 22:08:01    2081118

We certainly think so as do Carlow and Kerry

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1456 - 02/03/2018 23:56:04    2081653

PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 05/03/2018 11:37:59    2081905

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 06/03/2018 11:04:24    2082147

would not switch for 1b hurling any quicker than i would switch for division 4 football.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 06/03/2018 14:22:34    2082213

mike03 (Limerick) - Posts: 2000 - 06/03/2018 15:53:50    2082234

Isn't it possible to stay in 1B indefinitely by finishing 2nd, 3rd or 4th and still win the League year after year?

Tacaí Liatroma (Leitrim) - Posts: 1030 - 06/03/2018 21:20:28    2082325

While 1b winners have enjoyed leauge success over the last few years , it is my belief that playing in 1a is the only way that a player will really develop. Galway and limerick will be going all out to win this Sunday and the looser will be bitterly disappointed.

heartbroken (Galway) - Posts: 370 - 06/03/2018 22:06:18    2082335

think myself its been detrimental to limerick being in 1b, but we have had chances to go up and were not good enough,

In 1a you get tested against a better quality of opposition, plus you get bigger crowds with the resultant financial benefits

would be a massive result for us to win -hopefully we go and perform on sunday, give us a huge huge boost and would bring on our players a lot bear in mind you havce na piarsaigh lads to come back

separately where my best bet for parking on sunday, coming in from limerick side, will have kids with me
long long time since i was at a game in salthill,

youngmunstersman (Limerick) - Posts: 80 - 06/03/2018 22:21:22    2082341

i really hope limerick win on sunday,they have been in 1b for way too long in my opinion but if people from limerick are generally happy there,who are we to tell them otherwise!
i work in a hotel near wexford park and the boost of 1a hurling has been massive.on match day we are run off our feet,before and after the match or on saturday when the matches are on tv.
the benefits of having kilkenny,clare,cork in town are huge for the community as well as the hurling team and it results in hotels,etc needing more staff on match day which is a brilliant spin-off.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 07/03/2018 09:11:41    2082379

Delighted to see Limerick being promoted, well done to them.
The reaction of supporters and players at full time did not look like people who think 1B is where they want to be!

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 12/03/2018 08:45:48    2083787