The GPA is adamant that a second-tier championship is doomed to failure.

Delegates will vote on proposals to introduce a 'B' championship for Division Four teams at next month;s Congress but GPA head of communications Seán Potts says the players' representative body has already consulted with the counties concerned and that they are simply not interested:

"The players wanted the provincial championships to stay so we set out that parameter and the second thing was there wouldn't be a 'B' championship. We went to the relevant counties and they didn't want to play in a 'B' championship. That pertains now and will in the future if they try to trial a system with a 'B' championship," he is quoted in The Irish Examiner.

"The players just don't want it. They don't want to be disconnected from the principal competitions. We've gone back to them time and time again about this and the answer has been the same every time.

"On the previous occasion (Tommy Murphy Cup), the status of the competition diminished in due course and the feeling was no matter what is done to make it more attractive in the short term that the long term will see that happen again. You could play it on high profile occasions but the initial enthusiasm will fade and it will be seen as a lesser competition.

"We don't know what consultation was carried out between the counties and their county squads. We suspect not a great deal. We would reject the current proposal as it stands. It doesn't fit any of the criteria that has been laid out by the players in the process we engaged in."

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