National Forum

Cork Chairman Pitches New AI SHC Revamp

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https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41883283.html

Above is Cork Chairman's hot-off-the-press proposal for a new AI SHC structure.

Main details:
- Muns & Lein round robins retained
- Lein increased to 7 teams
- 4 AI Prelim QFs (Prov 3rd/4th host 5th/6th/7th)
- 4 AI QFs (Prov Finalists host 4 Prelim QF winners)

My initial thoughts are that mixed-Prov round robins are better, and there is not much advantage in getting a Prelim QF bye as opposed to playing it (given the lack of quality depth). It is possible to lift the Liam McC Cup with 4 wins in the AI Series, after losing all 6 Lein games (hello Kildare).

It brings more hurling into mid Summer, so it is an improvement on what we have now.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3494 - 21/07/2026 14:39:25    2686496

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Replying To omahant:  "https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41883283.html

Above is Cork Chairman's hot-off-the-press proposal for a new AI SHC structure.

Main details:
- Muns & Lein round robins retained
- Lein increased to 7 teams
- 4 AI Prelim QFs (Prov 3rd/4th host 5th/6th/7th)
- 4 AI QFs (Prov Finalists host 4 Prelim QF winners)

My initial thoughts are that mixed-Prov round robins are better, and there is not much advantage in getting a Prelim QF bye as opposed to playing it (given the lack of quality depth). It is possible to lift the Liam McC Cup with 4 wins in the AI Series, after losing all 6 Lein games (hello Kildare).

It brings more hurling into mid Summer, so it is an improvement on what we have now."
Not much point to the 10 Munster and 21 Leinster Round Robin games if everyone gets to play in a knock out All Ireland series.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 775 - 21/07/2026 17:35:07    2686514

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Munster wants a back door while Leinster lives with a trap door!

Leinster counties face relegation. Munster counties don't. Yet we're now being asked to support a proposal that gives Munster counties even more protection through an expanded All-Ireland series.
Before creating second chances for counties that finish fifth in Munster, perhaps the GAA should explain why a Leinster county can lose its place in the championship altogether while a Munster county cannot.
Championship reform should be about fairness for all hurling counties, not solving one province's problems at everyone else's expense.

wexford2012 (Wexford) - Posts: 136 - 21/07/2026 17:48:31    2686516

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I dont think a 7 team leinster would go down well playing two extra games then their munster counterparts

DuhallowRed (Cork) - Posts: 336 - 21/07/2026 18:01:40    2686519

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Replying To omahant:  "https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41883283.html

Above is Cork Chairman's hot-off-the-press proposal for a new AI SHC structure.

Main details:
- Muns & Lein round robins retained
- Lein increased to 7 teams
- 4 AI Prelim QFs (Prov 3rd/4th host 5th/6th/7th)
- 4 AI QFs (Prov Finalists host 4 Prelim QF winners)

My initial thoughts are that mixed-Prov round robins are better, and there is not much advantage in getting a Prelim QF bye as opposed to playing it (given the lack of quality depth). It is possible to lift the Liam McC Cup with 4 wins in the AI Series, after losing all 6 Lein games (hello Kildare).

It brings more hurling into mid Summer, so it is an improvement on what we have now."
Play provincial finals then top 4 in both provinces into an open draw of 4 teams. Play the 3 games in each group and the winners of each group into All Ireland final.

2maroonjerseys (Galway) - Posts: 172 - 21/07/2026 18:01:42    2686520

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Fair play to Cork GAA, Pat Horgan and Kevin O'Donovan, this is obviously a subject they've been giving plenty of thought to, its not their first statement on the need for something to be done for the game of hurling in recent months, and its a workable plan they've come up with to get more games of hurling later in the year, within the existing intercounty window too.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20310 - 21/07/2026 18:39:31    2686524

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Not much point to the 10 Munster and 21 Leinster Round Robin games if everyone gets to play in a knock out All Ireland series."
Sure why did we play Provincial Football Championship games this year then? All the Football counties played in the tier 1 or tier 2 All Ireland competitions that followed.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20310 - 21/07/2026 18:41:31    2686525

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Not much point to the 10 Munster and 21 Leinster Round Robin games if everyone gets to play in a knock out All Ireland series."
I agree.
I dont see this having any lifespan beyond this news cycle.
The preliminary quarter final may come in even though im against it myself but not so much that its a deal breaker for me.
The 7th team may even come into leinster even though im against that too and more so than 4th qualifying. I mean what do we do when they start talking about the 7th team going up and down? Go to 8, 9, etc. It also throws the McDonagh cup out of sync and the knock on effect to other championships. Noone in those championships are complaining. There also needs to be an extra 2 weeks found for that extra team. I think it will stay at 6 in leinster.
The most likely scenario is a preliminary quarter final weekend the weekend after the provincial finals between 3rd and 4th. Its the path of least resistance, fits into the current calender and schedule and doesnt cause any political controversy or turbulence.
The rules review is the bigger story.
Id like to see the tap/solo and go free introduced.
Indirect frees for technical fouls including perceived throws( tap and go can be used here)
Puckouts must go outside large arc( its on pitch so use it)
Limit numbers to ruck( max 2 per team and indirect free/tap and go for breach)
Black card to go. Retain the penalty for deliberate foul of all types that denies a goal scoring opportunity but get rid of the black card and 10 minutes. The penalty is punishment enough. If the foul is a yellow card anywhere else on the pitch its a yellow in this instance and ditto red.
There are going to be more than enough cards flying anyway when refs enforce the high tackle rules which they will going forward.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 747 - 21/07/2026 18:44:30    2686526

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Replying To Viking66:  "Sure why did we play Provincial Football Championship games this year then? All the Football counties played in the tier 1 or tier 2 All Ireland competitions that followed."
The hurling RRs work because not all the teams qualify for the AI.
If you let them all qualify the games will become challenge matches.
As for the football Provincials it appears some Counties didn't overexert themselves.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 775 - 21/07/2026 21:03:54    2686535

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You see like - Leinster 2 even groups of 4. Group winners with home advantage in Leinster semi finals.
3rd placed Leinster teams in a playoff. Playoff winner takes on 4th in Munster in a preliminary quarter final.

All Ireland quarter finalists:
2 Munster finalists
2 Leinster finalists
1 third placed team from Munster
2 Leinster semi finalists
1 preliminary quarter final winner

Seed 1 - provincial winners
Seed 2 - provincial runners up
Seed 3 - higher 2 non finalists on league ranking.
Seed 4 - lower 2 non finalists on league ranking.

Quarter final draw:
Seed 1 drawn at home to Seed 4, avoid repeat provincial pairing if possible.
Seed 2 drawn at home to Seed 3, avoid repeat provincial pairing if possible.

Semi final draw:
1. Provincial winners cannot draw each other.
2. Repeat provincial final pairings not allowed.

Sin é.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9993 - 21/07/2026 21:48:13    2686546

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Replying To 2maroonjerseys:  "Play provincial finals then top 4 in both provinces into an open draw of 4 teams. Play the 3 games in each group and the winners of each group into All Ireland final."
There isnt enough room in the calender for that

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 747 - 21/07/2026 21:57:52    2686547

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When did the hurling championship stop working? Why does it need a revamp?

It was changed to allow a team to stay in the Leinster championship rather than yoyo up and down. Its happening now with 6 teams - so the call is to include a 7th. It would also happen with 7 teams - do we then go to 8?

Leave the structure alone - the problem with it at the moment is the lobsided nature of the championship with Munster presently being stronger. Hopefully Henry Shefflin will get a tune out of Kilkenny again and if Derek McGrath brings a bit more out of Wexford the championship format will be right again.

The only change I'd make would be not to rush it through - allow a couple more weeks after the league to start the provincials and maybe take another bye week in the provincials themselves.

brianb (Kildare) - Posts: 502 - 21/07/2026 22:29:04    2686549

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Replying To omahant:  "https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41883283.html

Above is Cork Chairman's hot-off-the-press proposal for a new AI SHC structure.

Main details:
- Muns & Lein round robins retained
- Lein increased to 7 teams
- 4 AI Prelim QFs (Prov 3rd/4th host 5th/6th/7th)
- 4 AI QFs (Prov Finalists host 4 Prelim QF winners)

My initial thoughts are that mixed-Prov round robins are better, and there is not much advantage in getting a Prelim QF bye as opposed to playing it (given the lack of quality depth). It is possible to lift the Liam McC Cup with 4 wins in the AI Series, after losing all 6 Lein games (hello Kildare).

It brings more hurling into mid Summer, so it is an improvement on what we have now."
You can see where Cork are coming from. They've decided they're expending too much juice in Munster presumably. With this format, you can field B teams in the Provincial championships, and kick off the real stuff with a soft preliminary qfinal game, after potentially shipping 4 losses in Munster or 6 losses in Leinster. It certainly eliminates the dog eat dog Munster championships impact on the allireland series. I'd imagine Waterford would certainly support this, and maybe Tipp too.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4877 - 21/07/2026 22:51:46    2686550

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Would suit Cork better if their chairman would make necessary changes within their county to try win an All ireland instead of worrying about championship structures.

countyman2022 (Wexford) - Posts: 1059 - 22/07/2026 09:06:19    2686559

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Replying To Viking66:  "Sure why did we play Provincial Football Championship games this year then? All the Football counties played in the tier 1 or tier 2 All Ireland competitions that followed."
Because the provincial football championships helped determine which teams would go into Tier 1 of the subsequent competitions, and which teams would go to Tier 2.

Under the hurling structure being proposed, everybody would go to Tier 1 anyway. That's the key difference.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3803 - 22/07/2026 09:40:09    2686562

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Is this April 01st?
I hear he is working on Einstein's 2nd Theory of Relativity as we speak.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 2131 - 22/07/2026 09:54:07    2686563

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Come on now lads. Give them the championship the Munster counties want.
Keep current format for both Leinster and Munster but instead have 5 qualify out of Munster and 3 from Leinster.

2 primarily quarter finals - 4th place team in Munster plays 3rd place team in Leinster and 5th place team in Munster plays runner up in Leinster. These games have to be fixed for Thurlus... its important that Munster counties get the advantage here.

2 Quarter finals - winners of the primarily quarter finals will play 3rd and 2nd in Munster - Again these games have to be fixed for Thurles.

Semi finals Croke Park - Leinster winner v Quarter final 1 winner
Semi finals Croke Park- Munster winner v Quarter final 2 winner

Final Croke Park Winner of Semi final 1 v Winner of Semi final 2 *

*If Cork qualify for the All Ireland final they get home advantage

This should keep the Munster lads happy.

logger (Wexford) - Posts: 339 - 22/07/2026 10:45:51    2686572

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People absolutely lost their minds over 3 teams qualifying from 4 team groups and now I wake up to see it's ok for all teams to qualify from 5 and 7 team groups in hurling!

RoyalBadger (Meath) - Posts: 599 - 22/07/2026 11:28:04    2686574

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Replying To wexford2012:  "Munster wants a back door while Leinster lives with a trap door!

Leinster counties face relegation. Munster counties don't. Yet we're now being asked to support a proposal that gives Munster counties even more protection through an expanded All-Ireland series.
Before creating second chances for counties that finish fifth in Munster, perhaps the GAA should explain why a Leinster county can lose its place in the championship altogether while a Munster county cannot.
Championship reform should be about fairness for all hurling counties, not solving one province's problems at everyone else's expense."
I agree the Muns & Lein SHCs would be truly stand alone, not much impact on the road to Liam - why go hell-for-leather, spending all their energy, before the main event?

With regards relegation, poster Legendzxix put it best quite a while ago - both Provs keep five up. He also suggested that the Donagh Cup winner could join the Prov opposite the one with the relegated team - i.e. 6-team Prov would alternate, year on year, between Muns & Lein.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3494 - 22/07/2026 11:44:07    2686581

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Replying To DuhallowRed:  "I dont think a 7 team leinster would go down well playing two extra games then their munster counterparts"
Yeah, that crossed my mind too.

For a 4-game, 7-team Lein - one way could be to split the 'seeded' prov into a trio, pair & pair - with the trio playing both pairs, and each pair playing each other. Maybe messy, but it works.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3494 - 22/07/2026 11:52:03    2686582

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