Just read that for Camogie Championship 2026, the strongest 4 teams (2025 AI SF teams) will be put in Group 1, with the next 4 in Group 2. After 3 group games, Group 1 top 2 go to AI SFs, while the bottom 2 play Group 2 top 2 in AI QFs.
We've gone back and forth between "tiered" and "mixed quality" groups in hurling's NHL, so this debate never settles.
I'm of the view that, up to a point, "mixed quality" is best - it limits elitism (football NFL) and provides teams with quality 'a notch below' to potentially improve.